Roadway Surface Blading/Grading Needed for the Mark Twain National Forest

Amendment / Modification

This amendment revises submission instructions, award criteria, and corrects technical discrepancies for Solicitation 12444526Q0014.

Key changes include:

• Extension of Closing Date: The closing date is extended from 03/27/2026 to 04/03/2026 at 05:00 P.M. EST.

• Submission and Award Instructions: The previous paragraph (b) on page 9 is deleted and replaced. Offerors are now informed that multiple awards may be made and that they are not required to submit pricing for all districts. Quotes can be submitted for one, several, or all eight districts, but pricing must be provided for all line items within a specific district to be considered for that district.

• Evaluation Criteria: The evaluation section (Page 13, FAR 52.212-2) is updated to clarify the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) process for multiple awards. Awards will be made on a district-by-district basis. To be rated 'Technically Acceptable,' proposals must demonstrate ownership or lease-access to at least one motor grader and one qualified operator per district bid.

• IDIQ Minimums: The guaranteed minimum for the life of any resulting contract is established as $2,500.00, with a maximum of $5,000,000.00.

• Ordering Period: Clause 52.216-18(a) on Page 20 is revised to show the ordering period ending on 04/30/2031.

• Units of Measure: Items 5.4.3 and 5.4.4 for Poplar Bluff on Page 5 are revised from "Each" to "L.F."

• Page 9, Paragraph b (Submission and Award Instructions)

• Page 13, FAR 52.212-2 (Evaluation Criteria)

• Page 20 (Ordering Period and IDIQ Minimums)

• Page 5, Items 5.4.3 and 5.4.4 (Units of Measure for Poplar Bluff)

• The proposal deadline has been extended.

• Offerors now have flexibility in choosing which districts to bid on and are not required to price all districts.

• Clarification on the LPTA evaluation process for district-specific awards.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment to Solicitation 12444526Q0014 revises submission instructions, award criteria, and addresses technical discrepancies.

Key changes include:

• Extension of Closing Date: The solicitation closing date has been extended from March 27, 2026, to April 3, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST.

• Revised Submission and Award Instructions: Offerors are no longer required to submit pricing for all districts. They can submit quotes for one, several, or all eight districts. To be considered for a specific district, pricing must be provided for all line items within that district.

• Revised Evaluation Criteria: The evaluation criteria are updated to clarify the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) process for multiple awards. Awards will be made on a district-by-district basis to the responsible offeror(s) whose quote is determined to be LPTA for that specific district. Technical acceptability requires demonstrating ownership or lease-access to at least one motor grader and one qualified operator per district bid.

• Correction of Technical Discrepancies:

  • IDIQ Minimums: The guaranteed minimum for the life of any resulting contract is established as $2,500.00, with a maximum of $5,000,000.00.
  • Ordering Period: The ordering period ends on 04/30/2031, aligning with the final option year.
  • Units of Measure: For Poplar Bluff Ranger District, items 5.4.3 and 5.4.4 units of measure have been revised from "Each" to "L.F." to ensure consistency with other districts.

• Solicitation closing date

• Submission and Award Instructions (Page 9, Paragraph b)

• Evaluation Criteria (Page 13, FAR 52.212-2)

• IDIQ Minimums (Page 20)

• Ordering Period (Page 20)

• Units of Measure for Poplar Bluff Ranger District (Items 5.4.3 and 5.4.4)

• The deadline for submitting offers has been extended to April 3, 2026.

• Offerors now have the flexibility to bid on individual districts rather than all districts.

• Evaluation criteria have been clarified, emphasizing a district-by-district LPTA approach.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation (RFQ) for commercial products or services for the FY26-30 IDIQ Road Blading Contract for the Mark Twain National Forest. The government is procuring road blading services to re-establish road crowns and slopes, including incidental cleanup and drainage work.

• Surface blading of road traveled way and shoulders using a motor grader.

• Re-establishment of road crown or slope.

• Incidental cleanup and drainage work, including cleaning and reshaping ditch lines to a minimum of 1 foot and outlet ditches.

• Minimum of five (5) passes on all roads.

• Contract Type: Firm-fixed price, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).

• Period of Performance: Base year plus four potential option years.

  • Base Year: 05/01/2026 - 04/30/2027
  • Option Years 1-4: 05/01/2027 - 04/30/2031

• Performance Seasons: Spring blading (May 1 - July 1) and Fall blading (September 1 - November 1), weather permitting.

• Submission Method: Email to Michael.Wheelock@usda.gov.

• Proposal Components: Technical proposal, price proposal, and contractor representations and certifications.

• Evaluation Criteria: Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). Offers will be evaluated for acceptability on Technical Capability and Past Performance. Award will be made to the lowest-priced offer that receives an 'Acceptable' rating in all non-cost factors.

• Offer Due Date: March 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

• This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns.

• NAICS Code: 237310

• Small Business Size Standard: $45.0 million.

• Offerors must have an active entity registration in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Attachments include: Experience Questionnaire, Schedule of Items, Statement of Work, and Wage Determination.

• Site visits can be arranged by emailing Darren Morris at darren.w.morris@usda.gov.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, under the Service Contract Act. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations performing work on covered federal contracts in a specific geographic area.

• Geographic Area: Missouri Counties of Butler, Carter, Douglas, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Wayne, Wright.
• Occupational Listings: Provides a comprehensive list of job titles, corresponding occupation codes, and their associated minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Indicates that fringe benefits are required and follow the occupational listing. Specific details on Health & Welfare, Vacation, and Holidays are provided in subsequent sections.
• Executive Orders: References Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (Minimum Wage), outlining their applicability and requirements for federal contractors.
• Footnotes: Includes specific notes for certain occupations, such as Computer Employees, Air Traffic Controllers, and those requiring hazardous pay differentials.

This wage determination is critical for bidders to accurately estimate labor costs for their proposals. It dictates the minimum wages and benefits that must be paid to employees working on the contract, directly impacting the overall cost of the bid. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages and benefits meet or exceed these requirements to be compliant.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Experience Questionnaire (Attachment F) required by the USDA Forest Service, referencing FSH 6309.31 and 41 USC 1. It is designed to gather information from potential bidders to assess their experience and capability to perform a specific contract.

• Contractor Information: Name, address, telephone number, UEI, and email.
• Business Type: Company, Corporation, Co-partnership, Individual, Non-profit Organization.
• Years of Experience: In the specific line of work and overall contracting experience (prime and sub-contractor).
• Past Projects: Details of projects completed within the last three years, including contract amount, description, completion date, and contact information.
• Current Commitments: Listing of concurrent contractual commitments, including contract number, dollar amount, involved agency, percentage completed, and completion date.
• Past Performance: Information on any failures to complete work or work completed via performance bond, with reasons and locations.
• Organization and Work Availability: Minimum and maximum number of employees, employee regularity on payroll, and progress rates.
• Principal Individuals' Experience: Details on key personnel, their positions, years of experience, and the magnitude/type of work performed.
• Equipment: List of equipment planned for use, including maintenance plans.
• Quality Control and Safety: Description of contractor's self-inspection procedures, use of bio-based products, safety plan, and planned schedule.

Bidders must complete this questionnaire thoroughly and accurately. The information provided will be used by the Forest Service to evaluate the bidder's experience, capability, and capacity to successfully perform the work outlined in the solicitation. Failure to provide complete information may impact the evaluation of the proposal.

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

This Statement of Work outlines the requirements for road maintenance services, including surface blading, culvert installation/replacement, and aggregate placement.

• Surface Blading:

  • Re-establish road crown/slope using a motor grader (minimum 12-foot moldboard).
  • Includes cleaning and reshaping ditch lines (minimum 1 foot depth) and outlets.
  • Requires a minimum of five passes on all roads.
  • Involves scarification to eliminate ruts/potholes and removal of obstructions (fallen trees, limbs, rocks >3 inches) from the roadway and ditch lines.
  • Material is bladed from shoulders to the center, creating a crown for drainage into ditches.
  • Out-sloped roads are graded from high to low side.
  • All drainage dips and outlet ditches must be maintained for adequate water flow.

• Culvert Installation/Replacement:

  • Utilize backhoe loader or excavator for trenching.
  • Trenches to be a minimum width of culvert diameter + 2 feet.
  • Native material (no rocks >3 inches) to be used for bedding and compaction.
  • Minimum 1 foot of compacted fill over culvert, uniform with road surface.
  • Contractor responsible for removal and disposal of old culverts.
  • Culverts to be skewed 30% for drainage, with COR approval for deviations.
  • Installed alignment must have no reverse grades and vary by no more than 2% of length or 1.0 feet from a straight line.
  • New corrugated metal culverts (0.064" thickness) or HDPE culverts must be American-made and COR-approved.
  • Contractor must contact "dig-rite" before excavation.

• Aggregate Placement:

  • Delivery and tailgate spreading of specified aggregate.
  • Depth, width, and length determined by COR.
  • Aggregate spread in uniform layers, conforming to existing surfaces.
  • Crushed aggregate must comply with Missouri Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, Section 310.2 and 1006, Grade B.
  • Weight tickets required for each load.
  • COR approval needed for aggregate source.
  • Specific counties in Missouri require lead testing for aggregate due to naturally occurring minerals.

• Roads must remain passable to traffic during operations.

• Fallen trees, limbs, rocks, and debris must be removed and disposed of properly.

• Culvert inlets/outlets and catch basins must be cleaned.

• Weight tickets for aggregate loads are required.

• Lead testing for aggregate from specified Missouri counties is mandatory.

• Not explicitly stated in the provided text, but implied to be on National Forest System Lands within specific districts/counties in Missouri for aggregate testing.

• Safety:

  • Exercise due caution to prevent conflict with public users.
  • Roads must remain passable (one-half passable during culvert work).
  • Flashing signals and slow-moving vehicle emblems required on equipment.
  • Warning signs required on both ends of work sections, following MUTCD standards.
  • Work scheduled to ensure road passability at end of day.
  • No berms or windrows left on the road overnight without proper signing and illumination.

• Compliance:

  • Follow all State and Federal regulations, including OSHA guidelines.
  • Adhere to Missouri Standard Specifications for Highway Construction for aggregate.
  • Comply with pipe manufacturer's specifications for HDPE culverts.
  • Obtain COR approval for culvert placement, aggregate sources, and grading of unusable material.
  • Contractor responsible for disposal of removed culverts and debris outside Forest Service property where applicable.