Bid guide
How to respond to the Forest Service’s Cowboy Hat Stewardship RFI
What the Forest Service is researching
The Forest Service is seeking capability statements for forest thinning and hazardous-fuel treatments on 205 acres in three units burned by the Caldor Fire near South Lake Tahoe. The required logging method is cut-to-length: trees are cut and processed at the stump, then transported to landings.
Possible work includes biomass removal, mastication, temporary road construction and decommissioning, and road maintenance. Hand thinning and piling may also be awarded. This is an RFI for market research and planning, not a contract solicitation or promise of a future contract.
Key dates and the deadline
Capability statements are due electronically by November 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific time. The listed deadline is 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. The Forest Service says it will not reimburse costs associated with responses.
A site visit is planned for November 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. local time in South Lake Tahoe. To attend, email Karen Ruklic by 1:00 p.m. Pacific time on November 2. Work is anticipated to begin in early summer 2027 and finish by September 15, 2027.
Who this opportunity may suit
This RFI is relevant to forestry and environmental-services firms with experience in cut-to-length logging, forest thinning, and hazardous-fuel reduction. Vendors should be able to describe relevant crews, equipment, and mobilization capabilities.
The anticipated work also makes experience with biomass handling, mastication, landings, temporary roads, and road maintenance relevant. The Forest Service is gathering information, so responding does not itself submit a bid for a contract.
How to access the opportunity and respond
Use “View original source” on the opportunity page to open it on the portal. If the first click opens the portal homepage, click again to go to the opportunity. A free account may be needed to view documents, though some bids do not require one.
Send the capability statement electronically to Karen Ruklic at [email protected] by November 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific time. If you plan to attend the site visit, email her by the same time on November 2.
Prepare a clear capability statement
Include the requested company information: UEI, address, email, point of contact, business size, and socio-economic status. Describe relevant cut-to-length thinning and hazardous-fuel reduction experience, and identify key personnel, crew qualifications, equipment, and mobilization capabilities.
Provide past-performance references and make the connection to this project clear. For example, explain which parts of the described work your team has performed and what equipment and crews you could bring. Review any available draft documents and use the site visit to understand the work area before deciding whether to follow a future solicitation.
See the live bid — deadline, agency details, and how to respond
Dates and requirements can change via addenda; always verify on the bid page and at the original source before responding.
View this bid on BiddingSimpleThis guide was prepared by BiddingSimple from the solicitation’s public posting. It is not official guidance from Forest Service; the original posting controls.