Packing Services

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, titled "Horse Use," is part of the Leave No Trace "Skills & Ethics" educational program. It provides guidance on how to minimize environmental impacts when using horses and other packstock in wildland areas. It is intended for recreational users to educate them on responsible practices.

• Leave No Trace Principles: Outlines seven principles for minimizing impact, including planning ahead, traveling on durable surfaces, proper waste disposal, leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impacts, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors.
• Horse Use Specifics: Details best practices for planning trips with packstock, including gear selection, animal conditioning, meal planning, and understanding herd dynamics.
• Travel and Camp Practices: Covers staying on designated trails, using established campsites, proper confinement of horses, and protecting water resources.
• Waste Disposal: Emphasizes packing out all trash, proper human waste disposal (cat holes), and managing wastewater.
• Respecting Wildlife and Others: Provides guidance on observing wildlife from a distance, avoiding feeding animals, storing food securely, controlling pets, and being considerate of other trail users.

This document serves as an educational resource for potential bidders who may be involved in opportunities requiring the use of horses or packstock in wildland environments. It highlights the importance of environmental stewardship and responsible recreation, which could be a factor in contract performance or proposal evaluation for relevant opportunities.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for packing services using pack mules or horses for one year. The services will involve transporting food, supplies, and equipment for work in and adjacent to the Trinity Alps, Russian, and Marble Mountain Wilderness Areas in Northern California, supporting KNF Post-Fire Trail Recovery work.

• Transport food, tools, and other necessary supplies via pack stock.

• Food and supplies will be provided by the government at an agreed-upon location.

• The contractor must be able to field 20 head of pack horses or mules with four packers, four riding animals, and sufficient trucks and trailers.

• The contractor must demonstrate the ability to pack unusual loads over steep, rocky terrain and navigate remote roads.

• The contractor must be located within 100 miles of Fort Jones, CA.

• Award Type: Firm-fixed price purchase order.

• Period of Performance: July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

• Delivery Date: June 30, 2027.

• Offerors must submit pricing as requested in Attachment 2 - Schedule of Items.

• Quotations will be evaluated for fair and reasonable pricing (FAR 12.204).

• Technical Acceptability will be rated "acceptable" or "unacceptable" based on the offeror's ability to meet requirements and demonstrate understanding.

• Past Performance will be evaluated as Acceptable, Neutral, or Unacceptable.

• Award will be made to the offeror representing the best value to the Government using a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation method.

• Offerors must provide a detailed explanation of their capabilities and address any requirements in the PWS that cannot be met.

• Questions are due by May 20, 2026, at 12:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time and should be emailed to Kari.Hughes@usda.gov.

• Offers are due by May 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time.

• North American Industry Classification Standard (NAICS): 115310

• Size Standard: $11.5 Million

• The solicitation is set aside for Small Business.

• Attachments include: Statement of Work (Attachment 1), Schedule of Items (Attachment 2), Health and Safety Code Handbook (Attachment 3), and Leave No Trace (Attachment 4).

• The offeror agrees to hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the offer due date.

• Government Point of Contact: Kari Hughes, Kari.Hughes@usda.gov, 805-291-6349.

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

To secure the services of Packers and pack mules or horses for one year to transport food, supplies, and equipment for work in and adjacent to the Trinity Alps, Russian, and Marble Mountain Wilderness Areas in Northern California. This support is for KNF Post-Fire Trail Recovery work.

• Provide up to 20 pack mules or horses and necessary riding horses/mules for Animal Packers and assistants.

• Transport specified quantities of food, supplies, and equipment with one week's notice for changes.

• Services include: inserting food/supplies/equipment to establish base camps, resupplying base camps, drop-packing at pre-determined sites, and packing out equipment at the end of a hitch.

• Pack non-typical loads, including but not limited to: wooden posts and signs, food, tools, crosscut saws, rock bars, and 5-gallon propane bottles.

• Prepare loads, ensuring proper storage of perishable and delicate items.

• Trips will be no more than 20 miles roundtrip from listed trailheads.

• Contractor may black out 20 days over the period of performance.

• Priority packing days are scheduled for July, August, September, and October 2026, with flexibility for other dates with one week's notice.

• Contractor will furnish all saddles, ropes, tarps, and associated pack gear.

• Anticipated loads range from 5 to 20 per project needs.

• Responsible for backhauling trash and empty coolers/propane tanks.

• Loads may weigh no more than 160 lbs, with a minimum of 100 lbs unless dimensions prohibit.

• May be requested to deliver signs, posts, and install directional signs.

• Contractor must be located within 100 miles of Fort Jones, CA and be available on at least 20 separate days.

• None explicitly stated beyond successful delivery and transport.

• One year contract.

• Work locations are trailheads on the Klamath National Forest accessing the Trinity Alps, Russian, and Marble Mountain Wilderness Areas.

• Contractor operations must comply with FSH 6709.11 Health and Safety Code Handbook.

• Partner and volunteer camps are drug and alcohol-free; violation can lead to contract default.

• Contractor is responsible for all travel and transport.

• Contractor must provide Animal Packer(s) with sufficient experience packing unusual loads over steep, rocky terrain and navigating remote FS system roads with a loaded horse trailer.

• Government will supply coolers and bear boxes; contractor is responsible for their loss or damage (>$200).

• Contractor is responsible for transportation costs to agreed-upon locations for packing.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Chapter 50, Section 55 of the FSH 6709.11 - Health and Safety Code Handbook, titled "Employee Safety, Security, and Health." It provides detailed guidance and requirements for establishing and maintaining temporary labor camps and remote-site camps.

• Altitude-Related Problems: Discusses the effects of high altitude on employees and mitigation strategies.
• Temporary Camp Requirements: Outlines standards for:
  • Fire prevention and evacuation
  • Water supply (potable, storage, dispensing)
  • General camp requirements (heating, sleeping quarters, sanitation, food preparation areas)
  • Sleeping quarters (space per occupant, ceiling height, bed spacing, windows, screening)
  • First-aid kits and communication systems
  • Emergency vehicles
• Camp Sanitation: Details requirements for refuse disposal, cleaning of cabins, kitchens, restrooms, and showers.
• Food and Food Service Operations: Covers kitchen and dining hall construction, hygienic principles, food handler requirements, prevention of contamination, pest control, cleaning of food preparation surfaces, storage of perishable foods, and temperature controls for hot and cold foods.
• Spike Camps/Remote-Sites: Provides guidance on preparations for camping out, including communication, travel, food procurement, equipment training, hazard assessment, waste disposal, camp layout, and natural hazards.
• Cooking Operations: Specifies requirements for cooking areas, meal preparation, utensil cleanliness, and food storage.
• Food Rations: Addresses inspection and destruction of canned foods and emergency rations.
• Water Purification: Outlines methods for obtaining safe drinking water from undeveloped sources.
• Organized Swimming Activities: Details safety requirements for after-work swimming, including risk assessment, supervision, lifeguards, and participant conduct.

This document establishes the health and safety standards that any temporary or remote camps established as part of an awarded contract must adhere to. Bidders should review these requirements to understand the operational and logistical implications for any work involving field camps, including potential costs associated with meeting these standards for water, sanitation, food service, and shelter.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Schedule of Items, specifically an Excel spreadsheet, detailing the services and quantities for the McCash (05) - CON - TRAILS, PACKING CONTRACT opportunity with the Klamath National Forest.

• Item Number: 0001
• Description: Animal Packing services into Wilderness Areas
• Estimated Quantity: 30
• Unit of Issue: Day
• Period of Performance: 07/01/2025 TO 07/01/2027

This attachment provides crucial details for potential bidders regarding the specific services required (animal packing) and the estimated quantity (30 days) within the specified period of performance. Bidders should use this information to estimate their costs and resources for proposal preparation.