Request for Information Silvah

United States
Department of
Agriculture

Forest
Service

Washington Office

Procurement and Property
Services National Procurement
Operations IT Contract Branch
333 Broadway Blvd SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102

Request for Information (RFI)
Title: Market Research for SILVAH Software Coding
Agency: USDA Forest Service
Date Issued: October 22, 2026
Response Due Date: November 11, 2026
Purpose
This RFI is for market research only and does not obligate the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract. Respondents will not be compensated for submissions, and participation is voluntary.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS) is conducting market research to identify capable sources to repair SILVAH version 8 in C++ code to then work with scientific staff to produce a new SILVAH version 9 coning some features from SILVAH 7 and 8. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation or commitment by the Government.
Background
SILVAH is a computer tool for making silvicultural decisions in hardwood stands of the midAtlantic and Central Appalachian regions. SILVAH recommends appropriate treatments based upon user objectives and overstory, understory, and site data provided by the user. SILVAH also contains a wildlife attributes report, forest stand growth simulator, provides the ability to test alternative cuts, enables development of a forest-wide inventory database, and facilitates other forest management planning functions.
SILVAH is the computerized implementation of a systematic approach to silviculture, in which current conditions are identified through a systematic inventory of overstory and understory. These conditions are evaluated using an objective set of research-based standards and the constraints and objectives of the land-manager. Then a prescription is recommended to move the stand closer to the manager’s objectives.
Requested Information
Interested vendors are invited to respond to the following requests: 1. Describe your company’s relevant experience with forestry applications and abilities to review, rewrite, and update existing C++ code.
2. Provide estimated staffing levels, including proposed labor categories and relevant certifications.
3. Describe your Service Level Agreement (SLA) capabilities, including average response and resolution times for previous coding projects.

Caring for the Land and Serving People