The USDA Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, intends to acquire by contract hand application of pellet fertilizer and related work. The project includes hand application fertilization of 187 acres with an estimated 30 tons of Urea 46-0-0 pellets. There are also additonal option items that may include up to 364 acres of hand application fertilization and upto 57 estimated tons of Urea 46-0-0 pellets. This includes furnishing fertilizer, labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies and incidentals except those items listed as Government-furnished property.

Units are located on the non-legislated portion of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The locations of project units are shown on vicinity maps and subitem photos furnished with the solicitation.

A solicitation for this project work, following the procedures of FAR Part 13 for Simplified Acquisition, will be made available on this web site on or about August 24, 2011. The period for performance will be 12 days from issuance of a Notice to Proceed, which is anticipated to be issued on or about September 13, 2011. This acquisition is 100 percent set-aside for small business concerns. The NAICS Code for this procurement is 115310 with a applicable size standard of $7.0 million. Offerors will be evaluated on price, experience, past performance and other factors. A single contract will be awarded to the offeror whose offer, conforming to the solicitation, is the best value to the government.

All responsible sources may submit an offer which will be considered by the government. In accordance with FAR 4.1102(a), prospective contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database prior to award of a contract. Lack of registration in the CCR on the part of the offeror will render an offeror ineligible for award. Offerors may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements by calling 888-227-2423, or via the Internet at http://www.ccr.gov//.