SAM #12444726Q0050

Mastication Services for Mountain Laurel and Undesirable Species in Allegheny National Forest

The USDA Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest Bradford Ranger District, is soliciting contractors for manual and mechanical mastication services targeting mountain laurel and other undesirable woody species under 6 inches DBH across 313 acres. - Government Buyer: - US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District - Scope of Work: - Manual and mechanical mastication of mountain laurel and undesirable woody vegetation under 6 inches DBH - Total treatment area: 313 acres across 10 designated units - Contractors must assess vegetation density to determine appropriate treatment method (mechanical vs. manual) - Protection of desirable species and limited ground disturbance required - Contractors must locate, initial, and date orange "2026 Mastication" tags in each unit prior to work - All areas accessible from forest roads; alternate routes require approval - Virtual unit boundaries provided via georeferenced PDF maps and shapefiles - Equipment: - Use of rotary cutting mowers such as FECON bull hog brush cutters is specified for mechanical mastication - Notable Requirements: - Work must occur outside the April 1-June 30 nesting season - Contractors must demonstrate expert mastication experience - Compliance with environmental and safety requirements - Firm fixed price contract; award to lowest priced technically acceptable offeror - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors are named, but FECON is referenced as an example of required equipment - Product Line Items: - Mastication treatments specified for each unit, with acreage and part numbers where available - Services Line Items: - Manual and mechanical mastication services including labor, equipment, supervision, and compliance

Description

This project involves manual and mechanical mastication of mountain laurel and other undesirable species under 6 inches DBH within designated areas of the Allegheny National Forest. Vegetation density varies, requiring contractors to assess on‑the‑ground conditions to determine where mechanized equipment can be used versus areas requiring manual treatment, such as intermittent stream buffers, dry drainages, and locations inaccessible to machinery. All treatment areas are reachable from forest roads unless an alternate route is approved in writing by the COR. Virtual unit boundaries are provided on georeferenced PDF maps, with shapefiles available upon request. Units will be marked with orange “2026 Mastication” tags that contractors must locate, initial, and date prior to beginning work to confirm the correct unit. Please refer to the attachments for additional details."

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