124026 O3 Intend to Award SPB 42.docx

This is a Notice of Intent to Award issued by the State of Nebraska, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NGPC), for solicitation number 124026 O3 regarding Cedar Tree Clearing for Firebreaks at Wapiti Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The project requires removal of eastern red cedar trees across 44.8 acres, with trees to be cut at or below ground level within 150-300 feet of firelines and relocated beyond designated boundaries to facilitate prescribed burns in the Loess Canyons terrain. A mandatory solicitation conference was held on December 18, 2025, in North Platte, Nebraska, with written questions due by December 24, 2025, and responses posted by December 31, 2025. Electronic proposals were due January 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM Central Time. The contract has been awarded to W.E. Arbor Solutions LLC, with the Intent to Award posted on January 16, 2026. The contract will commence upon execution and conclude on June 30, 2026, with work to begin immediately following contract finalization.

The evaluation was primarily cost-based, though the State reserved the right to consider previous contract performance and resident disabled veteran preferences. The solicitation included potential set-aside considerations for Nebraska-based businesses and businesses located in designated enterprise zones under Nebraska Revised Statutes 73-107. Contractors were required to demonstrate adequate manpower and equipment capable of managing large trees in steep terrain and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including $2,000,000 in general aggregate liability and $1,000,000 in commercial automobile liability. Contractors are responsible for repairing any fence damage during tree removal operations, with any failure to meet specifications requiring correction at no additional cost to the State. No specific budget range was explicitly stated in the solicitation documents.