Attachment 3 - MRWMA Unit 4.pdf

This attachment is a geographic information system (GIS) map document prepared for the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission regarding tree clearing services at Merritt Reservoir Wildlife Management Area. The map delineates Merritt WMA Unit 4, comprising 312.7 acres distributed across grassland (240.2 acres) and woodlands (72.5 acres), with 15.3 acres designated for fuels reduction. The project solicitation, opened January 8, 2026, requires removal of Eastern Red Cedar and Rocky Mountain Juniper trees 18 inches and taller across approximately 4,262.5 acres of the overall Wildlife Management Area, including 3,965.1 acres of grasslands and 297.4 acres of woodlands. A mandatory bidders' conference is scheduled for January 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Merritt Reservoir State Recreational Area in Cherry County, Nebraska, with attendance required for bid eligibility. Proposals are due February 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time, with contract award anticipated February 20, 2026. The contract term extends from March 9, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

Contract pricing will be structured on a per-acre basis using a cost sheet provided by the State. Primary removal methods include mulching, with cutting and piling permitted for trees exceeding 20 feet in height with greater than 6-inch diameter at breast height. Contractors may exchange merchantable timber for reduced per-acre thinning rates, provided materials are 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 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. Work must occur under dry or frozen ground conditions to minimize environmental impact, and the project includes protective measures for Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, Northern Long-eared Bat, and Whooping Crane habitats. The State will award to the lowest responsible bidder and may provide preference to resident disabled veterans or designated enterprise zone businesses when all other factors are equal.