Install High-Game 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 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.

CFTEP seeks construction of approximately 20 miles of 8-foot high-game fencing on private and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge property located in rural areas of Cameron County, Texas. Fence will be installed in targeted areas to prevent access of CFT host wildlife in tick-free areas. The fence will not obstruct public or private access roads or driveways, nor will it be installed through township areas or across water resources, such as 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. 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 $19 million. The solicitation and all other documents related to this procurement will be available on SAM on or around Feb 25, 2025. 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.