Helicopter Aerial Spraying in North Dakota

Background
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking capability statements from qualified firms to provide aerial chemical application services for vegetation management and noxious weed control at USACE-managed lands associated with the Garrison Project/Lake Sakakawea, including satellite locations at Bowman-Haley Dam and Pipestem Dam.

This Sources Sought notice is issued for market research purposes to identify interested businesses and assist in determining an appropriate acquisition strategy. The prior requirement covered approximately 493,000 acres of federally administered land in North Dakota.

Work Details
The contractor shall perform chemical application services on federal land administered by the USACE Garrison Project utilizing helicopter-based platforms. Services include:

1) Proactively surveying lands for noxious weeds during appropriate growing seasons;
2) Inventorying noxious weeds by collecting GPS data (coordinates, weed species, and acres of infestation);
3) Controlling noxious weeds via helicopter chemical application capable of spot treatment and solid coverage;
4) Documenting chemical application services through completed pesticide application records (PARs) and GPS datasets;
5) Documenting the degree of infestations via a comprehensive electronic database;
6) Preparing and submitting invoices for payment;
7) Providing proof of application such as GPS spray tracks or maps.

All work must comply with applicable FAA regulations for rotorcraft operations.

Place of Performance
Multiple Locations within North Dakota ND 58565

Bidder Requirements
Bidders must meet the following requirements: Small Business Set Aside - Total (SBA); possess applicable federal, state, and local pesticide applicator licenses; have experience performing helicopter-based aerial herbicide applications within the last five years; demonstrate capability in aerial application operations, noxious weed identification, data collection/reporting, safety/quality control, and environmental protection; provide proof of necessary insurance coverage including general liability and aviation insurance.

Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
This opportunity appears to have a confirmed incumbent, as Dakota Helicopter Air Services was awarded USACE aerial chemical application services for noxious weed control at the Garrison Project in North Dakota under W9128F23D0044 (07/27/23–09/30/28) for $140,132. The prior work includes helicopter-based herbicide application on inaccessible areas along with surveying/inventorying and GPS-based documentation (PARs and spray track/map proof), which aligns closely with the current requirement to survey, apply herbicides via rotorcraft for both spot treatment and solid coverage, and submit GPS/PAR and infestation database deliverables.