The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the service of a contractor to provide all labor, equipment, and supplies to control exotic plants as identified below on Refuge managed lands, particularly Water Conservation Area 1 at the A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach, FL. Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia) and Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum) are the primary targets of this particular project However, Australian pine, Brazilian pepper, bischofia, earleaf acacia, shoebutton ardisia, Ficus microcarpa, and Java plum have also become established as invasive pest species in vital wetland areas of South Florida and on the Refuge and will also be treated under the resultant contract. Treatments shall be performed on all Category 1 and 2 DEP and FLEPPC-listed invasive plants as identified for each delineated treatment area. These species are well adapted to grow in wetland areas, and have no known natural control organisms. Their spread is further accelerated by fire and hydrological disturbances. The CONTRACTOR shall have valid and current licenses in the aquatic and right-of-way categories issued by the State of Florida, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and have a minimum of three (3) years experience in treating aquatic and upland exotic plant species in Florida. The successful CONTRACTOR shall be required to submit a copy of the licenses to the CONTRACTING OFFICER prior to the award date. The CONTRACTOR shall have sufficient equipment and personnel to treat a large acreage of exotic vegetation in multiple locations simultaneously. This is a SMALL BUSINESS set aside with an NAICS code 561730 and a size standard of $6 million. The tentative RFP issue date is June 15, 2004. CAUTION: The RFP documents will be available electronically on the Federal Business Opportunities web site at http://fbo.gov. Paper copies WILL NOT be available. Registration with the FWS for Electronic Commerce (EC) at the National Business Center (NBC) website http://ideasec.nbc.gov will also be required. Prospective offerors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at http://www.ccr.gov in order to be eligible for award. CCR help is available at 1.888.227.2423. CCR registration requires applicants to have a DUNS number which can be obtained free of charge from Dun and Bradstreet at (800) 333-0505 or at http://dnb.com. Once the solicitation is posted, it is up to the interested parties to review this site for any updates/amendments.Telephone requests will not be accepted.*****

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