Grasshopper Aerial Pesticide Aerial Application

Background
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), specifically the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is seeking to implement the Grasshopper Aerial Suppression Program. This program aims to address economically significant outbreaks of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets through aerial application of pesticides on designated treatment areas within the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, located in Blaine and Phillips Counties, Montana. The contract is set aside for small business concerns, with a focus on ensuring compliance with environmental and safety regulations.

Work Details
The contractor is required to provide comprehensive aerial application services, which include: furnishing all necessary personnel, aircraft, equipment, materials, permits, and operational capabilities to conduct safe and compliant aerial applications of pesticides or bait formulations. The work must support federal, tribal, state, and local partners in suppressing outbreaks while adhering to all relevant environmental, safety, and programmatic requirements. The contractor must ensure that operations can be conducted seven days a week as needed.

Period of Performance
The geographic location(s) the contract will be performed (if provided)

Place of Performance
Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Blaine County and Phillips County, Montana.

Bidder Requirements
Bidders must meet the following requirements: 1) Small Business Set Aside - Total (SBA); 2) Compliance with all regulatory requirements identified in the Statement of Work; 3) Demonstration of past performance that shows ability to meet contract requirements; 4) Relevant licenses and certifications for aerial application services; 5) Key personnel qualifications as specified in the solicitation.

Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
This opportunity appears to have a confirmed incumbent and/or closely related prior contract based on USDA APHIS PPQ Grasshopper/Mormon cricket aerial suppression awards under solicitation 12639525D0038, awarded to Morris Ag Air & Sons for approximately $204,729 during 05/01/25–04/30/27. Those prior awards involved full-service aerial insecticide/bait applications (including reconnaissance flights, recordkeeping, and coordination for operational schedules) to suppress grasshopper and Mormon cricket populations across multiple states including Montana, using approved products such as diflubenzuron. The current requirement similarly calls for providing aircraft, personnel, equipment/materials, permits, and compliant aerial pesticide application on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana.