Attachment 6 - MRWMA Unit 6.pdf

This attachment is a geographic map document related to the Merritt Reservoir Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Unit 6, which supports a tree clearing service solicitation issued by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NGPC). The map delineates Merritt WMA Unit 6 and identifies the location relative to Merritt Dam Road and the Snake River. The solicitation requires contractors to remove Eastern Red Cedar and Rocky Mountain Juniper trees 18 inches and taller across approximately 4,262.5 acres, comprising 3,965.1 acres of grassland and 297.4 acres of woodland. 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. A mandatory solicitation conference is 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. The solicitation period opened January 8, 2026, with responses due February 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. The contract award is targeted for February 20, 2026, with work performance scheduled from March 9, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Compensation will be determined by per-acre pricing submitted by bidders, with contractors permitted to exchange merchantable timber for reduced per-acre thinning rates provided materials are removed by contract completion. Completed work areas must be at least 200 acres and require NGPC staff inspection prior to payment authorization. All contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance including Workers' Compensation, Commercial General Liability with a $2,000,000 general aggregate, and Commercial Automobile Liability with a $1,000,000 combined single limit. Work must be performed under dry or frozen ground conditions to minimize environmental impact. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, with preference extended to resident disabled veterans or businesses in designated enterprise zones if all other evaluation factors are equal. The project includes environmental restrictions protecting Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, Northern Long-eared Bat, and Whooping Crane habitat, and incorporates fuel reduction efforts and 200-foot boundary treatment requirements.