Herbicide Ohio Buys Request for Quote.docx

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is requesting bids for: Herbicide application of trees and shrubs on reclaimed strip-mined properties listed below.

Specifications:

a. Description of the areas: The wildlife areas listed below are all reclaimed strip-mined land with autumn olive, black locust, honeysuckle, and other woody species invading the herbaceous reclamation areas. The density of woody vegetation varies from very little to near closed canopy. It is the responsibility of the vendor to research all aspects of completing treatment including consideration for access, treatment methods, staging areas, topography, vegetation density, and all other considerations necessary.

b. Wildlife areas and approximate treatment areas for each:

c. Treatment methods are at the discretion of the vendor but must be specified in the bid.

d. If a vendor has additional contracts with ODNR, the vendor is responsible for completing previously contracted work and this work, if awarded, and will be required to attest to both (see k also).

e. Project goals and specifications:

i. 95% kill of all woody stems within the delineated treatment areas.

ii. Treatment method must use selective herbicides that do not kill grasses. All pesticide applications must follow the label.

iii. Treatment must be completed by June 30, 2025.

iv. Initial treatment must be effective and visible within four weeks.

v. All bids must include follow-up treatment at no additional cost. Follow up treatment must be completed on any woody vegetation not killed initially and may not be made until after the effects of the first treatment are evident. Follow up treatment must be completed within six weeks of initial treatment.

a. Pre-work on-site visit: Awarded vendor is required to attend a pre-work on-site visit at all awarded wildlife areas. Visit will be scheduled following award.

b. Georeferenced PDFs of the treatment areas will be provided to the vendor. Vendor must use Avenza maps or an application capable of using georeferenced PDF maps with a mobile GPS in the field to determine treatment areas. KMLs or shapefiles of the project area will be provided only if necessary for the treatment method.

c. Following the on-site visit, vendor is responsible for preparing a treatment proposal and submitting for approval by DOW before treatment. Treatment plan must address the following topics and all other topics pertinent to the treatment proposal:

i. Means and methods to be used (i.e. helicopter, drone, UTV sprayer, backpack sprayers, etc.). If using a drone, then list the make and model. All Chinese made drones are prohibited.

ii. Chemicals, chemical quantities per acre, and solution total per acre.

iii. Planned treatment schedule. DOW anticipates an executed contract and purchase order open by mid-May. Work may not start until a purchase order is opened. At the sole discretion of DOW, the contract may be extended.

iv. Preparation of staging areas and landing zones is the responsibility of the vendor. Treatment plan must include all areas proposed for preparation.

v. Treatment area closures and signage for reentry will be the responsibility of the vendor. Treatment plan must include proposed signage, plan for posting closures, plan for posting reentry times, and a plan for removing all signage following completion of the project.

vi. Treatment plan must include proof of all necessary license and certifications required for the proposed treatment method (i.e. pesticide applicators certification with appropriate categories, FAA certifications, etc.).

vii. The DOW has grazing contracts at App. Hills, Egypt Valley, and Tri-valley Wildlife Areas. Pesticides may be required to be applied to grazing areas. The vendor will be required to plan logistics with DOW and the grazer to ensure cattle are not in the treatment area while restricted by the label. Treatment plan must acknowledge the vendor will coordinate logistics with DOW and the grazer.

d. Post-work on-site visit will be scheduled no sooner than two weeks after the follow up treatment, or until the effects of both the initial and follow up treatments are evident. Final determination of success will be made by DOW. Payment will not be made until after the post-work on-site visit and completion of any necessary retreatments.

Evaluation. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder as determined by the State.

Contract Award. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder by line item. Vendors are not required to bid on all areas and may enter $0 for wildlife areas they don’t wish to bid. Vendors must attest they will attempt to complete the entirety of all awarded work by June 30, 2025 without an extension. DOW may not award locations at its sole discretion based on budgetary considerations and other project factors.

Preferences: The State will apply all preferences pursuant to Ohio Administrative Code 123:5-1-06.

Following the initial evaluation and scoring, all Proposals will be considered for preferences. Preferences will be calculated at a rate of five percent (5%) for the first preference and two percent (2%) each for the second and third preferences. The preferences shall be combined and applied as a total percentage of the original Proposal to determine the score for evaluation purposes.

Preferences will only be applied if there is at least one Offeror that does not qualify for that particular preference. For purposes of qualifying for a preference, an Offeror failing to complete the certification for each preference will be deemed as not qualifying for that preference.

(a) For the Buy American preference, if any Offeror offers a product that is not a domestic source end product, the State will add the applicable percentage of the total available points to the total score of each Offeror offering a domestic source end product.

(b) For the Buy Ohio preference, if any Offeror is a Buy Ohio Offeror claiming the preference, the State will add the applicable percentage of the total available points to each Buy Ohio Offeror’s total score.

(c) If claiming the preferences in (a) and (b) based on the product(s) offered, an Offeror is only eligible to receive the preference if the cost of the product(s) offered exceeds 50% of the total offered cost for products and services. A Buy Ohio Offeror is also eligible to receive the Buy Ohio preference based on its significant economic presence in Ohio or a border state.

(d) For the Veteran-Friendly Business preference, the State will add the applicable percentage of the total available points to any certified veteran-friendly business Offeror’s total score.

Site Visit & Point of Contact

a. Potential bidders are required to attend a pre-bid on-site visit at each of the wildlife areas listed in (c) which the vendor wishes to submit a bid. Bids submitted by vendors not in attendance will not be considered. The objectives of the onsite pre-bid meetings are to orient vendors with the scope of work, the areas to be treated, connect with onsite staff, ask questions about the scope, etc.

Once a contract is awarded, failure of the bidder to have requested a site visit to become familiar with the facility and requirements of the bid will be insufficient reason to support any request to be released from the contract.

Bill to information: All invoices must be submitted DIRECTLY to Financial Shared Services (FSS)

There are three options available to submit invoices to FSS:

EMAIL the invoice to: invoices@ohio.gov FAX the invoice to: (614) 485-1039 MAIL the invoice to: Financial Shared Services, PO Box 182880, Columbus, Ohio 43218-2880 image1.png