2025 Austin Cary Forest Timber Sale.docx

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA TIMBER SALE 2025_1_AUSTIN CARY FOREST

TIMBER SALE PROSPECTUS

Description

Sealed, per-unit (pay-as-cut) offers are being accepted for the sale and harvesting of merchantable pine and timber at the Austin Cary Forest at 10625 NE Waldo Road, Waldo, FL 32609 in Alachua County described under SALE AREAS and identified on Figure 1.

The total sale area is approximately 100 acres composed of three pine stands:

1973 Planted Slash, Thinned (35 acres) to be clearcut. Average density is estimated at 300 trees per acre, with an average DBH of 13” and merchantable height (4” top) of 70’.

1987 Planted Slash, Thinned (18 acres) to be clearcut. Average density is estimated at 300 TPA, with an average DBH of 11” and merchantable height (4” top) of 65’.

Natural Mixed-Pine ~1943 (47 acres) to be selectively harvested (blue-marked trees to be cut). Among pines to be removed, average density is estimated at 110 TPA, with an average DBH of 18” and merchantable height (4” top) of 72’.

Sale boundaries, including interior wetlands and similar, are delineated by roads and or yellow paint at approximately 6’ above ground. Trees to be harvested from the Mixed Pine stand are marked with blue paint at approximately 6’ above ground.

CONDITIONS:

1. Descriptions and estimates provided by SELLER of conditions are non-binding. Offerors shall satisfy themselves as to volume and value of timber for sale before offering.

2. Offeror should carefully examine both the agreement and the sale area on the ground before placing an offer. Failure to do so will be at the Offeror’s risk. If this prospectus contradicts the sale agreement, the agreement governs.

3. Interested parties may inspect the property and/or make a detailed cruise of the sale areas. Contact Aaron Smith, ACF Forester at 850.688.4425 or email atsmith@ufl.edu to schedule.

4. Offers should be made PER-TON, with separate prices per-ton provided for:

a. pine pulpwood/mulchwood/chips;

b. dimensional pine (chip-n-saw, sawtimber, etc; and

c. blended hardwood.

5. As the best interest of the State may require, the right is reserved to reject any and all offers and to waive any irregularity in the offers received.

6. Offers must be submitted on the attached Offer Form (last page of attached contract). Amount of the Offer should be plainly written in ink or typed, and the Offeror’s signature is required. All corrections made by the Offeror to their Offer price must be initialed. Other information to be completed on the Offer form includes the Offeror’ s name and title, date, company name, address, phone number, and FEID number. If an Offer is submitted with other than the required information, the University of Florida reserves the right to reject the Offer. Offers must be submitted in writing (written, or via email). Offers by telephone are NOT acceptable. Firm prices shall be offered, and an Offer may not be altered after opening.

7. Offers should be plainly identified:

and reach the School of Forest, Fisheries, & Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida on or before 3:30 PM Thursday September 25, 2025.

8. Telephone notification of a successful Offer will be tendered within 24 hours and written notification (email) will be provided within five working days.

9. The successful Offeror must sign the Timber Sale Agreement and provide a Security Deposit of $5,000 within 30 days after notification that the University of Florida accepted the Offer, or two days prior to commencing harvesting, whichever is earlier.

10. Once harvesting has commenced, payments will be submitted by Offeror no less than every two weeks, with the first payment due no later than two weeks after harvesting has commenced.

11. All checks should be made payable to the University of Florida.

12. The PURCHASER will have one (1) year after signing the timber sale agreement to complete all harvesting operations. Extensions will be considered only when Acts of God or other extreme contingencies beyond the control of the PURCHASER prevents the completion of the timber sale during the designated one (1) year, and at the sole discretion of the University of Florida.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA_TIMBER SALE 2025_1_AUSTIN CARY FOREST

Offer Terms & Conditions of Sale

1. AWARD – Award will be made on an "All-or-None Offer Total Offer" basis. Any contract awarded pursuant to this Offer will be awarded to the single best Offeror/proposer or to none at all.

2. OFFER FORM – All offers shall be submitted using the Timber Sale Agreement (pages 6-9 of this document). Offers may be submitted via email, or in written form, but must be clearly labeled:

Opening Date/Time: Thursday September 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM

3. OFFER DELIVERY – If this offer will be mailed through the U. S. Postal Service as regular mail, address the offer to the PO Box as shown on the Offer Acknowledgment Form. If a company representative plans to attend the offer opening; if the offer will be hand delivered; or if the offer will be delivered by a service other than the U. S. Postal Service regular mail, i.e., Federal Express, Airborne, United Parcel Service, Courier, U. S. Postal Express Mail, etc., address the offer to:

Offers submitted via email should be sent to:

atsmith@ufl.edu

All Offers shall be received no later than 3:30 PM Thursday, September 25, 2025. Any Offers not received before or by that time will not be accepted and/or returned to Offeror.

4. CANCELLATION – Seller, by written notice, may terminate in whole or in part any order resulting from this invitation to Offer, when such action is in the best interest of the University. If the order is terminated, the Offeror shall be liable only for payment of product cut prior to the effective date of the termination.

5. QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFERORS – This offer will be awarded only to a responsible Offeror qualified by experience to provide the work specified. Bidder must be willing to provide proof of Master Logger status.

6. INQUIRIES – The University will not give verbal answers to inquiries regarding the specifications, or verbal instructions prior to or after the award of the offer.

a. A verbal statement regarding the same by any person shall be non-binding. The University is not liable for any increased costs resulting from the Offeror accepting verbal direction. All changes, if necessary, shall be made by written addendum to the offer.

b. Any explanation desired by Vendors must be requested of the University of Florida, School of Forest, Fisheries, & Geomatics Sciences in writing, and if an explanation is necessary, a reply shall be made in the form of an addendum, a copy of which will be forwarded to each Vendor who has received a set of the offer documents from the University.

c. Vendors obtaining Offer documents from any other source must notify the University of their Name, address, telephone, and email in order to receive any addenda.

d. Direct all inquiries to Aaron Smith at (850) 688.4425 or atsmith@ufl.edu.

7. INSPECTION OF FACILITIES – It is the Offeror’ s responsibility to become fully informed as to the nature and extent of the work required and its relation to any other work in the area, including possible interference from academic or other University activities. Arrangements for Offeror’s inspection of the forest and facilities and/or activity schedules may be secured from Aaron Smith at (850).688.4425 or atsmith@ufl.edu.

8. INSURANCE – NON-CONSTRUCTION – The Contractor shall purchase from and maintain with a company or companies, lawfully authorized to do business in Florida and acceptable to the University, such insurance as will protect the Contractor from claims arising out of or resulting from the Contractor’s operations under the Contract and for which the Contractor may be legally liable, whether such operations be by the Contractor or by a Subcontractor or by anyone directly or indirectly employed by any of them, or by anyone for whose acts any of them may be liable. All insurance policies shall be issued and countersigned by representatives of such companies duly authorized for the State of Florida and shall be written on ISO standard forms or their equivalents.

The Contractor shall file with University of Florida Purchasing Certificates of Insurance prior to the commencement of the work and shall file certificates of insurance evidencing the renewal of such policies at least thirty (30) days prior to the date each applicable insurance policy is scheduled to expire (purchasing@ufl.edu or fax (352) 392-8837).

Contractors Liability Insurance - The Contractor shall provide the ISO Commercial General Liability policy for general liability coverage’s for limits of not less than of $1,000,000 per occurrence. Coverage’s shall be maintained without interruption from date of commencement of work until date of final payment.

Worker's Compensation - The Contractor shall secure and maintain for the life of this Agreement, valid Worker's Compensation Insurance as required by Chapter 440, Florida Statues.

Automobile Liability - The Contractor shall secure and maintain during the life of this Agreement, Automobile Liability insurance on all vehicles against bodily injury and property damage in the amount of at least, $1,000,000 per occurrence.

9. PROTECTION OF PROPERTY – The successful Offeror shall at all times guard against damage or loss to the property of the University or of other vendors or contractors and shall be held responsible for replacing or repairing any such loss or damage. The University may make additional charges as deemed necessary to insure reimbursement or replacement for loss or damage to property through negligence of the successful Offeror or his agents. The contractor shall take all necessary precautions to protect facilities and personnel.

10. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT – The State Universities have established equal opportunity practices which conform to both the spirit and the letter of all laws against discrimination and prohibits discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, marital status, or religion.

11. PUBLIC ENTITY CRIME – A person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list by the Department of Management Services, State of Florida, may not submit a proposal on a contract to provide any goods or services, including construction, repairs, or leases and may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant for the University of Florida for a period of 36 months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendor list, a "person" or "affiliate" includes any natural person or any entity, including predecessor or successor entities or any entity under the control of any natural person who is active in its management and who has been convicted of a public entity crime (Rule 6C1-3.020 FAC).

12. FEDERAL DEBARRMENT – By signing this Offer, the Offeror certifies, to the best of its knowledge or belief, that the offeror and its principals are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, or declared ineligible for the award of contracts by any Federal agency; or have not within a three-year period preceding this offer, been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them in connection with a public contract or subcontract; or are not criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity with commission of offenses; or has not within a three year period preceding this offer had a contract terminated for default by any Federal agency. (Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.209-5).

13. DISCRIMINATION – An entity or affiliate who has been placed on the discriminatory vendor list may not submit an Offer on a contract to provide goods or services to a public entity, may not submit an Offer on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit Offers on leases of real property to a public entity, may not award or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor or consultant under contract with any public entity, and may not transact business with any public entity.

14. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT – If special accommodations are needed in order to attend a pre-Offer meeting or an Offer opening, contact Eric Money at (352)392-1331 ext. 226 or email at emoney@ufl.edu, three business days prior to either pre-Offer meeting or Offer opening.

15. NOTICE TO CONTRACTOR – The University shall consider the employment by any contractor of unauthorized aliens a violation of section 274A(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Such violation shall be cause for unilateral cancellation of this contract.

16. USE OF TERMS – The terms SELLER, University of Florida, UF, University, Austin Cary Forest, ACF, IFAS, and Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are used synonymously in this Invitation to Offer unless otherwise indicated. The terms PURCHASER, vendor, proposer, offeror, and contractor are used synonymously in this ITB unless otherwise indicated.

17. ERRORS – The University is not liable for any errors or misinterpretations made by the proposer in responding to this Invitation to Offer.

18. CONFIDENTIALITY – From the date of issuance of this ITB, until a proposal is made, the vendor must not make available or discuss his or her Offer, or any part thereof, with any employee or agent of the University, unless permitted by the University Purchasing Authority, in writing, for purposes of clarification only.

19. VENDOR’S EXPENSE – All Offers submitted in response to the ITB must be submitted at the sole expense of the Vendor, whether or not any agreement is signed as a result of this Invitation to Offer. Offerors will pay all costs associated with the preparation of Offers and necessary visits to campus and other required site visits.

20. CONTRACTOR SHALL IMPLEMENT – a drug-free workplace program in accordance with the requirements of Section 440.102, Florida Statutes.

21. TOBACCO-FREE CAMPUS POLICY – Effective July 1, 2010, the University of Florida campus was designated tobacco-free. The use of cigarettes or other tobacco products in UF buildings, grounds, parking lots, or in vehicles in these areas is prohibited. The successful Offeror is expected to respect this policy and fully comply with it.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA_TIMBER SALE 2025_1 AUSTIN CARY FOREST

TIMBER SALE AGREEMENT

THIS OFFER, made this day of , 2025, between the UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA hereinafter called the SELLER, and

Company Name Company Address

Representative and Title Signature (Signature of Authorized Representative)

City State Zip

Hereinafter called the PURCHASER.

ARTICLE I

Preamble For and in consideration of the promises and agreements hereinafter contained, SELLER agrees to sell and permit PURCHASER to cut, and PURCHASER agrees to cut, remove, and provide suitable payment for as specified, such cut timber specified in this Agreement, subject to the Agreement provisions.

ARTICLE II

Description The SALE AREA at the University of Florida, Austin Cary Forest (ACF) is composed of three stands totaling 100 acres, more or less, in Section 28 of Township 8S Range 21E. Timber is to be cut as described in Article III, within the boundaries of the sale area. Boundaries of sale area are shown on Figure 1.

ARTICLE III

Timber Included This Agreement includes only that timber described below within the specified sale area indicated on the attached Figure 1. The sale area is composed of approximately 100 acres. Sale boundaries, including interior wetlands and similar, are delineated by roads and or yellow paint at approximately 6’ above ground. Trees are marked with blue paint at approximately 6’ above ground.

1973 Planted Slash, Thinned (35 acres) to be clearcut. Average density is estimated at 300 trees per acre, with an average DBH of 13” and merchantable height (4” top) of 70’.

1987 Planted Slash, Thinned (18 acres) to be clearcut. Average density is estimated at 300 TPA, with an average DBH of 11” and merchantable height (4” top) of 65’.

Natural Mixed-Pine ~1943 (47 acres) to be selectively harvested (blue-marked trees to be cut). Among pines to be removed, average density is estimated at 110 TPA, with an average DBH of 18” and merchantable height (4” top) of 72’.

Relative to compliance with European Union Deforestation Regulations (EUDR), this site is expected to be reforested/remain forested, and as such is understood to be in compliance.

ARTICLE IV

Conditions of Sale PURCHASER agrees to cut and remove timber included in this Agreement in strict accordance with all conditions, Florida Silviculture Best Management Practices (BMP’s), Florida Forestry-Wildlife Best Management Practices (WBMP’s), and requirements contained herein. If this Agreement contradicts the timber sale prospectus, the Agreement governs. All timber in this contract remains the property of the SELLER until severed from the stump. All scale tickets are the property of SELLER, and can be made available to SELLER by all wood processing mills at request of SELLER.

PURCHASER, in agreement with this contract, European Union Deforestation Regulation

This Timber Sale is a PER-TON sale. The University of Florida reserves the right to reject any and all offers. The Offeror making the optimum PER-TON offer, based on the best interests of the University of Florida and as extrapolated from an internal timber inventory, will be awarded the contract.

The successful Offeror has 30 days after offer opening, or two days prior to commencing harvesting (whichever is earlier), to meet with the ACF Forester, Aaron Smith, or his designate, to review the Timber Sale Agreement and submit the security deposit.

The successful Offeror for this sale shall have one (1) year after the date of the contract to complete harvest operations. Extensions will be considered only when Acts of God or other extreme contingencies beyond the control of PURCHASER prevent this time schedule from being followed. The PURCHASER may make a written request for an extension at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Agreement termination, with the reasons for the request stated therein. Extensions are granted at the sole discretion of SELLER.

PURCHASER or his representative agrees to have a conference with the ACF Forester, Aaron Smith, or his representative before cutting begins to discuss logging plans; e.g. roads, loading ramps, and skid trails.

PURCHASER and/or his employees shall exercise care at all times against the starting and spreading of fires in the sale and surrounding areas. PURCHASER shall be held liable for all damages caused by such fires. Damages will be determined by one person representing the PURCHASER, one representing the SELLER, and a third person chosen by both parties.

Logging crew members will not operate equipment within demarcated wetlands and other sensitive areas and will comply with Florida’s current Silviculture Best Management Practices and Forestry-Wildlife Best Management Practices in all operations. Logging operations may be temporarily suspended if weather conditions dictate, at the sole determination of SELLER.

Stumps shall be cut as low to the ground as possible. Logging slash and debris (e.g., branches, non-merchantable tops and similar) will be distributed throughout the harvest area. No piles of logging slash and/or debris will be accepted. Roadways will be kept clear of logging debris.

Loading areas/decks will be specified by the SELLER, in cooperation with the PURCHASER, but no more than three decks are anticipated.

The right of ingress to, and egress from, the sale area is hereby granted to PURCHASER, for the duration of this Agreement. Designated ingress to and egress of the sale area is via established gates on State Road 24 (Waldo Road).

PURCHASER agrees to leave all roads in a similar condition as when harvesting conditions began, including but not limited to, similar conditions of passability relative to vehicular traffic; and removing all logging debris, branches, and similar. Any stabilization materials must be approved by SELLER in writing prior to installation.

Operations on the sale area may be suspended by the Forester or his representative after written notice has been served on PURCHASER if the conditions and requirements contained in this Agreement are disregarded. Failure to comply with any of said conditions and requirements would be sufficient cause for termination of this Agreement and the use of the security deposit.

PURCHASER may not subcontract any part of this contract, without prior written approval of SELLER.

PURCHASER shall be responsible for seeing that the logging area, particularly around the logging ramps, shall be free from any litter, including oil cans, drums, paper, food waste, and other refuse.

PURCHASER agrees to dispose of equipment fluids (including, but not limited to, motor oil, hydraulic fluid and transmission fluid) off-site and in a proper manner. PURCHASER further agrees that under no circumstances whatsoever will any carcinogenic, controlled, toxic or otherwise hazardous substances or materials, or a container presently or formerly holding such substance(s), be allowed to drain, percolate on or into, or be stored, dumped, buried or otherwise contaminate, taint, or affect the sale area or any area adjacent to or in the vicinity of the sale area.

PURCHASER agrees to assume full responsibility and be liable for all damages to persons or property incurred in or resulting from the harvesting of timber. PURCHASER agrees further, by the acceptance of this Agreement, to release, acquit, indemnify, save, and hold harmless the SELLER and the State of Florida, their officers, agents, and representatives from any and all claims, loss, damage, injury, and liability, whether for personal injury or otherwise, resulting from, arising out of or in any way connected with the work to be performed under this Agreement.

PURCHASER must maintain, in accordance with University policies, Workers Compensation Insurance, property liability insurance and vehicle liability insurance during the time any of his/her personnel are working on the sale area, and shall furnish SELLER with a Certificate of Insurance naming the University of Florida as an additional insured prior to start of any work on the timber sale.

PURCHASER shall notify the Forester at least five (5) working days prior to the completion of the sale so that a compliance inspection can be made.

Decisions of SELLER shall be final in the interpretation of the regulations and provisions governing the sale, cutting, and removal of timber covered herein.

ARCTICLE V

Price and Deposit

PER-UNIT OFFER

PER-TON PINE PULPWOOD/MUCHWOOD/CHIPS: $/ton

PER-TON PINE DIMENSIONAL (CHIP-N-SAW, SAWTIMBER, ETC): $/ton

PER-TON BLENDED HARDWOOD (ALL PRODUCTS): $/ton

Payments will be made every two weeks based on tons harvested, by check made out to UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA and delivered to the ACF Forester, Aaron Smith, University of Florida, 1745 McCarty Dr, PO Box 110410, Gainesville FL 32611-0410.

Security Deposit A Security Deposit of $5,000 will be made to the SELLER and delivered within 30 days of notification of award, or two (2) days prior to the commencement of harvesting, whichever is earlier. The purpose of this deposit is to cover any damage to University of Florida property (including but not limited to damage to roadways and drainage structures, damage to gates and fences, damage to residual trees, damage to signs, or similar), and to compensate for breach of any contract provisions (including but not limited to excessive rutting, failure to remove refuse, failure to adequately disperse non-merchantable tree material, and similar). The ACF Forester and a representative of the PURCHASER will make a compliance inspection of the Sale Areas to determine if all conditions of the contact have been honored. If all conditions have been met the entire Security Deposit will be returned to the PURCHASER.

THIS WILL BECOME A LEGALLY BINDING ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER AND TIMBER SALE AGREEMENT UPON DATE OF SIGNATURE BY THE AUTHORIZED UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA REPRESENTATIVES AND ALL TERMS & CONDITIONS SHALL BE IN EFFECT AS OF THAT DATE:

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA:

Trevor Schneider Director, Office of Real Estate Date