This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items for a 2026 Botany Rare Plant Survey in the Superior National Forest, St. Louis and Lake Counties, Minnesota. The acquisition is a total small business set-aside. The contractor will perform botanical surveys to identify Regional Forester Sensitive Species (RFSS) plants. Key requirements include conducting pedestrian surveys, documenting findings, and submitting reports. The period of performance is from May 25, 2026, to November 30, 2026. Questions are due by May 15, 2026. Award will be made to the most technically advantageous offer, considering price, technical qualifications, lichen experience, past performance, and quality control.
The USDA requires delivery of all items by November 30, 2026. Early deliveries will be accepted. The report will be produced by November 30, 2026.
Payment will be made by the code indicated in block 18a. All invoices must be submitted electronically through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) via www. ***. *. *
Award will be made to the offeror whose proposal is determined to be the highest technically rated, provided that the proposed price is fair and reasonable, and past performance is assessed as acceptable or neutral. Tradeoffs will not be conducted.
The contractor and their employees must be able to correctly identify all plant species found in the Superior National Forest by sight or other means, such as the use of taxonomic keys. They must also be able to distinguish the plants found from one another. Specific qualifications include botanical qualifications and vascular plant experience, lichen experience, past performance, and quality control procedures.
Failure on the part of the contractor or its subcontractors to comply with the terms of the clause regarding antidiscrimination and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) compliance may be grounds for the contracting officer to terminate this contract for default.
A voucher specimen to the University of Minnesota Herbarium is required, though the COR may exempt the contractor if numerous sites are located. Vouchers shall not be collected from small populations of targeted rare plants.
Protests must be filed within the timeframes specified in FAR 33. 104. The agency's goal is to resolve protests within 35 calendar days from the date of filing.