Tree Cutting and Removal Services – USDA ARS Beltsville Agricultural Research Center

This document is a Schedule of Items procurement template for utility line clearing and emergency tree services. It outlines a five-year pricing structure, including a Base Year and four Option Years, across three Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs): CLIN 0001 for Preventive Utility Line Clearing, CLIN 0002 for Standby Emergency Storm Response, and CLIN 0003 for High Risk Large Tree Removal. The template is designed for bidders to input annual costs to calculate the total contract value across all years.

This federal solicitation (SF 1449), number 127EAU26Q0076, is issued by the USDA Forest Service (USDA-FS CSA Southwest 4) on behalf of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for utility and landscaping maintenance services. This is a 100% small business set-aside acquisition under NAICS code 561730 (Housekeeping-Landscaping/Groundskeeping) with a size standard of $9.5 million. The contract requires a contractor to provide preventive utility line clearing, standby emergency storm response, and high-risk large tree removal services. The place of performance is the NEA Facilities Division, located at the BARC-East facility in Beltsville, Maryland. The structure of the contract consists of a base year running from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027, followed by four consecutive 12-month option years, potentially extending services through September 30, 2031. Offers are due by September 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. The point of contact for this solicitation is Contracting Officer Veronica Beck.

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for professional tree cutting, trimming, removal, and storm-response services at the USDA's 6,400-acre Beltsville Agriculture Research Center (BARC) campus. The primary goal is to maintain safe clearances around high-voltage electrical distribution systems (13.2 kV and above) and ensure safe access to roads, parking areas, and walkways. Key tasks include directional pruning, specialized line-clearance operations within designated minimum approach distances, stump grinding, and the removal of compromised or fallen trees. Debris management requires chipping and removing branches under 6 inches in diameter, while larger wood remains onsite, in compliance with Maryland environmental regulations. To qualify, contractors must have at least one ISA Certified Arborist on staff, utilize line-clearance arborists trained under OSHA standards, and demonstrate experience with energized electrical infrastructure and storm response. The contract includes a one-year base period with four one-year option periods. Required deliverables consist of a preventive utility line clearing response plan (submitted within two business days of a request), a one-time emergency response plan for inclement weather, and a monthly vegetation removal report detailing completed work and hazards. All work must coordinate with on-site operations, undergoes government inspection, and is invoiced through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

This federal solicitation document outlines the commercial provisions and clauses applicable to contracts awarded under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) Part 12. It establishes that these terms supersede all prior agreements, and acceptance of an order constitutes full agreement to these conditions. Due to transitional system lag under the RFO, contracting officers will rely on the representations submitted directly in offers rather than updated registrations in the System for Award Management (SAM). The document incorporates numerous Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provisions and clauses by reference, many of which are modified by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Class Deviations from fiscal year 2025. Key provisions and clauses detailed in the document cover: - **Administrative and System Requirements:** SAM registration, maintenance, and electronic funds transfers. - **Socioeconomic and Labor Standards:** Total small business set-asides, accelerated payments to small business subcontractors, child labor cooperation, convict labor, equal opportunity for workers with disabilities, service contract labor standards, and paid sick leave. - **Contract Performance and Security:** Security prohibitions and exclusions, whistleblower protections, restrictions on subcontractor sales, rights in data, and compliance with laws regarding breach of contract claims and protests after award. Full texts of these clauses can be accessed electronically via the official acquisition portal.