Sources Sought
Leverich Helio Stewardship IRSC
Department of Agriculture · Forest Service · Sol. 12363N26Q4248
Due in 10 daysSmall business
AI summary Beta
The USDA Forest Service is asking for capability statements (a Sources Sought, not a solicitation) for helicopter-yarded fuels reduction timber work in the Bozeman Municipal Watershed near Bozeman, MT. The work is expected to start in late spring or early summer 2027 and run no more than two operational seasons. It is a small business set-aside.
Watch out for
- Helicopter yarding on steep terrain. Specialized aviation and logging capability is needed, which many small firms would have to team or subcontract for.
fuels reduction on steep and rugged terrain
- Site visit already passed or imminent. The organized site visit is on October 1, 2026, before the response deadline, so you may have missed it.
An organized site visit will occur on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. MDT.
- Market research only. This is not a solicitation, so there is no award from this notice and the final solicitation may differ.
It does not constitute a solicitation or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future.
Read from the notice text only.
Full brief
What they want
- Cut and remove about 290 CCF of Lodgepole pine sawtimber and 2045 CCF of Douglas-fir and other sawtimber on 151 acres
- Whole-tree helicopter yarding of the timber
- Pile slash at the landing area
- Decommission 0.59 miles of existing Temporary Road Use Permit (TRUP) roads after hauling
- Contract type
- Stewardship contract (IRSC); not otherwise stated
- Period of performance
- Anticipated start late spring/early summer 2027; estimated not to exceed two operational seasons
- Place of performance
- Northern Gallatin Mountain Range, south of Bozeman, MT (west side of FS Road #979, along Bozeman Creek)
- Offers due
- October 15, 2026, 4:00 p.m. MDT
- How to submit
- Email to Jeanne Windle at norma.windle@usda.gov
What to include when you submit
- Include company information (UEI, address, email, POC, socio-economic status)
- Include relevant experience, especially hazardous fuel reduction, helicopter yarding, steep slope timber operations
- Include safety program details and crew qualifications
- Include equipment lists and mobilization capabilities
- Include past performance references
- Site visit RSVP to Nathan Motzko by 12:00 p.m. MDT on September 30, 2026
You must have
- Small business set-aside (total)
- Experience with hazardous fuel reduction, helicopter yarding and steep slope timber operations
Relevant experience, especially hazardous fuel reduction, helicopter yarding, steep slope timber operations.
Not in the notice text
- Estimated contract value
- Evaluation method and factors for the future solicitation
- Contract type and exact terms of the anticipated stewardship contract
- Whether and when a solicitation will be issued
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 15, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC
- Posted
- Sep 11, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Solicitation
- 12363N26Q4248
- Agency
- Department of Agriculture · Forest Service
- Office
- USDA-FS, Stewardship Contracting Branch
- Set-aside
- Small Business Set Aside - Total
- NAICS
- 113310
- Product/service code
- F014
- Business type
- Environmental & natural resources
- Place of performance
- MT, 59718
- Contracting contact
- Jeanne Windlenorma.windle@usda.gov
Full notice text from SAM.gov
Sources Sought (SS) / Request for Information (RFI) This Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for market research and planning purposes. It does not constitute a solicitation or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. The Government will not reimburse accompanying costs. Any answers or attachments provided are based upon the best information available at the time of the visit and are subject to change. 1. Background & Purpose USDA Forest Service seeks capability statements from qualified vendors able to conduct fuels reduction on steep and rugged terrain within Bozeman Municipal Watershed Project area for the anticipated Leverich Helio Stewardship IRSC. The purpose of this SS/RFI is to gather information on vendor capabilities, invite prospective vendors to an organized site visit on 10/01/2026, and to view the area before snow limits access. 2. Anticipated Scope of Work Cut and removal of approximately 290 CCF of Lodgepole pine sawtimber 2045 CCF of Douglas-fir and other Sawtimber on 151 acres. Whole-tree Helicopter yarding of included timber. Piling of slash at the landing area. Road Decommissioning of .59 miles of existing Temporary Road Use Permit (TRUP) roads post-hauling. 3. Place of Performance The Leverich Helio Stewardship IRSC project is located in the northern Gallatin Mountain Range, just south of Bozeman, MT. Helicopter units are located on the west side of FS Road #979, along Bozeman Creek and adjacent to City of Bozeman land. 4. Period of Performance Anticipated start date: Late Spring/Early Summer 2027. Period of performance is estimated to not exceed two operational seasons and is dependent on weather, access, and coordination. 5. Site Visit An organized site visit will occur on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. MDT. Interested parties will meet at the Bozeman Ranger District located at 3710 Fallon St. Suite C. Bozeman, MT 59718. Interested parties should contact Nathan Motzko at nathan.motzko@usda.gov or 406-224-0323 by 12:00 p.m. MDT on September 30, 2026, if they intend to attend. 6. Requested Capability Statement Content Company information (UEI, address, email, POC, socio-economic status). Relevant experience, especially hazardous fuel reduction, helicopter yarding, steep slope timber operations. Safety program details and crew qualifications. Equipment lists and mobilization capabilities. Past performance references. 7. Response Instructions & Due Date Any information submitted by vendors to this this SS/RFI is voluntary. Responses should be submitted electronically to Jeanne Windle at norma.windle@usda.gov. All responses are due no later than October 15, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. MDT. 8. Points of Contact Direct all questions via email to Jeanne Windle, Contracting Officer at norma.windle@usda.gov.
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