NEBRASKA NF/BESSEY RD 2 EACH SKIDSTEER RENTALS - Solicitation

This Request for Quotation (RFQ), solicitation number 1240LP26Q0140, is issued by the USDA Forest Service Intermountain Region (CSA 4) for the rental of two rubber-tracked diesel skid steers. The equipment is required for a 12-month period of performance, tentatively from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2027, to support fuels reduction and tree-piling projects across 2,500 acres of cedar-encroached grasslands at the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands, Bessey Ranger District in Halsey, Nebraska. This acquisition is designated as a 100% total small business set-aside under NAICS code 532412 (Construction, Mining, Excavating, and Highway Maintenance Equipment Rental or Leasing), which has a size standard of $40 million. The requested skid steers must be 2022 models or newer, feature joystick controls, and have a minimum operating horsepower rating of 95 HP and a lift capacity exceeding 3,000 lbs. Additionally, they must include high/low-flow hydraulics, impact-resistant windshields, and 8-pin auxiliary hydraulic connectors to support government-furnished grapples and tree saws. Quotes will be evaluated using the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) method. Submissions must include pricing for both line items, equipment specifications, and product brochures. Offers are due to Contract Specialist Jane Pedrotti via email by August 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM MDT, and vendors must maintain active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). All payments will be processed electronically through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

This Statement of Work from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlines requirements for the rental of two rubber-tracked diesel skid steers for the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands, Bessey Ranger District in Halsey, Nebraska. The equipment is needed for a 12-month period from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027, to support fuels reduction and tree-piling projects across more than 2,500 acres of cedar-encroached grasslands. Eligible units must be 2022 models or newer, featuring joystick controls, a minimum of 95 horsepower, and a lift capacity exceeding 3,000 lbs. Additionally, they must include enclosed cabs with heating and air conditioning, impact-resistant windshields, high- and low-flow auxiliary hydraulics with 8-pin electrical connectors, and performance specifications equivalent to or greater than a Kubota SVL95. The Forest Service will provide its own certified operators and an 85-inch Virnig skeleton grapple attachment; no contractor personnel or travel are required. The government will inspect the machines upon delivery to verify specifications and mechanical safety. Estimated equipment usage is between 300 and 600 hours per year, with daily operations not exceeding 10 hours.

This government solicitation outlines the technical requirements for the rental of two tracked diesel skid steers. To support piling eastern red cedar trees in the Nebraska Sandhills, the requested machinery must be 2022 models or newer, feature a minimum operating horsepower rating of 95 HP, and have a lift capacity exceeding 3,000 lbs. The vehicles must be equipped with closed, climate-controlled cabs featuring heating, air conditioning, and impact-resistant (non-glass) front windshields or door windows. Key functional specifications include high and low flow hydraulics with both fittings, an 8-pin electric auxiliary hydraulic connector, joystick controls, and fall over protection. Additionally, the skid steers must be compatible with an 85-inch Virnig large-capacity skeleton grapple. The document provides the Kubota SVL95 as the benchmark model, detailing its specific engine, loader performance, undercarriage, hydraulic, and dimensional specifications as the standard for "equal or greater than" comparison.