Attachemnt 1 - MRWMA Unit 1.pdf

This is a map document prepared by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NGPC) depicting Unit 1 of the Merritt Reservoir Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located in Cherry County, Nebraska. The map illustrates the geographic boundaries and land composition of the WMA unit, identifying 1,008.2 acres of grasslands and 66.6 acres of woodlands within the designated area. The map serves as a reference document for the tree clearing service contract solicitation, which requires removal of Eastern Red Cedar and Rocky Mountain Juniper trees across approximately 4,262.5 acres of the overall Merritt Reservoir WMA. The solicitation opened on January 8, 2026, with a mandatory bidders' conference scheduled for January 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Merritt Reservoir State Recreational Area, with attendance required for bid eligibility. Proposals are due on February 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time, with an anticipated contract award date of February 20, 2026. The contract term extends from March 9, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

Compensation for the tree clearing services will be determined on a per-acre basis, with bidders permitted to reduce their per-acre thinning rates in exchange for merchantable timber materials that must be removed by contract completion. Completed work areas must encompass at least 200 acres and require Nebraska Game & Parks Commission staff inspection prior to payment authorization. Contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including Workers' Compensation, Commercial General Liability with a $2,000,000 general aggregate limit, and Commercial Automobile Liability with a $1,000,000 combined single limit. The State will award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder and reserves the right to conduct reference and credit checks. Preference may be extended to resident disabled veterans or businesses located in designated enterprise zones when all other factors are equal. Work must be performed under dry or frozen ground conditions to minimize environmental impact, with specific protections established for Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, Northern Long-eared Bat, and Whooping Crane habitats.