Contracting
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is a substantial contributor to the economies of local communities through contracting with various businesses and citizens for the procurement and acquisition of goods and services. Services are acquired through contracts, purchasing, and other various contract tools.
Contracted services included:
- Tree thinning projects
- Construction of trails
- Janitorial services
- Construction needed for repair and construction of facilities
- And other various commodities and services.
Purchases from local vendors for needed supplies to support fire incidents include:
- Water, fuel, batteries, medical supplies, mechanic services, tires, etc.
- Lodging, portable toilets, and equipment rentals such as bulldozers, excavators, backhoes, water trucks, pack strings, etc.
What a Contractor Needs to Know
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest receives procurement support for acquisitions over $25,000 from the Lake States Acquisition Team. Acquisitions below $25,000 are processed by the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest’s Purchasing Office.
In additions to the Chequamegon-Nicolet, the Lake States Acquisition Team provides shared services for contracting and acquisition to the:
The following three sites provide information on contracting with the federal government:
- The Federal Business Opportunities website, known as FedBizOpps, is where commercial vendors may search and retrieve opportunities, valued over $25,000, solicited by the entire Federal contracting community, including the Forest Service.
- National information for Forest Service Acquisition, including a helpful checklist for contractors, can be found at Forest Service Acquisitions.
- The USDA Forecast of Contracting Opportunities lists planned procurement opportunities for the current fiscal year and can be found on the USDA Departmental Administration page.
Contacts
Chequamegon-Nicolet Purchasing Office
USDA Forest Service
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
1170 4th Avenue South
Park Falls, WI 54552
Phone: 715-762-5165
Fax: 715-762-5119
Lake States Acquisition Team
USDA Forest Service
Lake States Acquisition Team
500 Hanson Lake Road
Rhinelander, WI 54501
Phone: 715-362-1347
Fax: 715-369-8863
FBO (FedBizOpps/Federal Business Opportunities)
- FBO enables agencies to post synopses, solicitations, and award information electronically via the internet.
- FBO replaces hard-copy solicitation packages and pre-solicitation notices.
- Contractors can register (free of charge) to receive e-mail notifications: for contracting opportunities with selected agencies; by product service classifications; or for all procurement notices.
- Contractors can retrieve selected solicitations over $25,000 as well as some under $25,000.
- More information (including registration instructions) is available at SAM.gov.
Pro-Net
- Pro-Net is an Internet-based database of information on more than 195,000 small, disadvantaged, Hubzone, 8(a), and women-owned businesses.
- Registration is free.
- Contracting offices utilize Pro-Net to identify potential contractors.
- More information (including registration instructions) is available at SBA.gov.
Note: The Lake States Acquisition Team is beginning to phase out the use of hard copy mailing lists. Contractors are strongly encouraged to begin utilizing FBO and get registered with Pro-Net.
EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer)
- EFT speeds up the receipt of payment.
- EFT enables payments automatically deposited to enrollee’s bank account.
- More information (including enrollment instructions) is available on the National Finance Center USDA website or via telephone at 800-421-0323.
Procurement Preference Programs
Pursuant to various Federal laws, competition for some federal government solicitations will be limited to contractors certified under specific programs. In some instances, price evaluation is adjusted when certified contractors respond to competitive solicitations. If eligible, get certified!
- Small Business Set-Aside: small business contractors
- 8(a): socially and economically disadvantaged contractors
- HUBZone: small business contractors located in historically underutilized business zones
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal agency responsible for administering these programs. Visit www.sba.gov or contact your local SBA office.
Duns Number
Contractors are required to submit this number with bids, quotes, or offers. Numbers can be obtained free of charge from Dun and Bradstreet at www.dnb.com or via telephone at 800-234-3867.