Install High-Game and Pasture Fencing, Cameron County, TX

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), intends to issue a request for proposals to provide and install high game and pasture fencing in Cameron County, Texas.

Background:

APHIS’s Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program (CFTEP) is charged with controlling the spread of Cattle Fever Ticks (CFT) that can infect cattle with bovine babesiosis. This infection can lead to a negative impact on the cattle business and result in an infestation of local ranches. CFT are not exclusive to cattle.  These ticks have also found suitable hosts on white-tailed deer and several exotic ungulates including nilgai antelope. APHIS is concerned about the role of white-tailed deer and nilgai antelope in spreading ticks in the area.

CFTEP seeks construction of approximately 10.5 miles of high-game fencing that is a minimum of 8-feet high on private and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge property located in the rural areas of Cameron County, Texas. Fence will be installed in targeted areas to prevent access of CFT host wildlife (whitetail deer and nilgai) in tick-free areas. The high-game fence will not obstruct public or private access roads or driveways, be installed through township areas, or be installed across water resources, including streams and arroyos.  These fence portions may connect with other existing game fence or cattle fencing already in place, creating miles of contiguous fencing across a wildlife corridor within the County. This additional fencing will decrease whitetail deer and nilgai antelope movement in several locations or contain cattle on systematic treatment for CFT outside of the Permanent Quarantine Zone. Construction includes a net-wire pasture fence to contain cattle on systematic treatment for CFT.

It's intended that this project will be set aside for service-disabled veteran-owned small business firms only. The estimated magnitude of this project is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000. The NAICS code is 238990, with a small business size standard of $16.5 million.  The solicitation and all other documents related to this procurement will be available on SAM on or around August 19, 2022.

It is the responsibility of interested parties to monitor this site for the solicitation and amendments, if any. Questions concerning this synopsis should be directed to Jim Roloff, contracting officer, at james.g.roloff@usda.gov.