ITB 2324-005 Steinhatchee Springs 24 Forestry.pdf

SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

INVITATION TO BID

23/24-005 OPS

FORESTRY CONSULTING SERVICES

STEINHATCHEE SPRINGS #24 TIMBER SALE PREPARATION

Table of Contents

Section Title Page 1 Introduction 2 2 Proposed Schedule 2 3 Instructions to Bidders 2 4 Key Points 2 5 Scope of Work 5 6 Bid Response Forms 8

Suwannee River Water Management District

9225 CR 49

Live Oak, FL 32060 386.362.1001

800.226.1066 (Florida only) www.mysuwanneeriver.com

SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION

The Suwannee River Water Management District (District) is conducting this Invitation to Bid (ITB) for Forestry Consulting Services. The District is requesting bids for timber sale preparation to include timber marking and cruising on the Steinhatchee Springs Tract in southwestern Lafayette County, Florida. See the Scope of Work in Section 5 for details. The District shall award this contract to the responsible and responsive forestry consultant who submits the lowest total project bid.

SECTION 2 - PROPOSED SCHEDULE

November 29, 2023 Release of Invitation to Bid (ITB) December 13, 2023 *Bids due prior to 10:00 am. Opening will occur at this time. *

* Denotes a public meeting.

SECTION 3 - INSTRUCTION TO BIDDERS

DELIVERY OF BID:

Submit Bids Electronically through DemandStar.

https://www.demandstar.com/app/agencies/florida/suwannee-river-water-management-district/procurement

For articles and videos to assist you through the DemandStar registry and uploading of documents visit the DemandStar business support page at -https://network.demandstar.com/business-support/

If you are unfamiliar with DemandStar, please submit your bid far enough in advance to work through any complications you may have with the system.

Bids are to be uploaded to the platform prior to 10:00 a.m. on December 13, 2023. Bids received after this time, for any reason, will be rejected.

SECTION 4 – KEY POINTS

Selection of Contractor: In accordance with subsection 287.057(1)(a)4, Florida Statutes, the contract shall be awarded to the responsible and responsive vendor who submits the lowest total project responsive bid. Responsiveness is determined in part by evaluating the vendor’s experience providing similar forest management services for tracts of forestland in North-central Florida. Should the successful bidder be unable at any time to accomplish the work he has been contracted for, the next ranked bidder for the same task may be contacted to complete the required work.

Invoicing and Payment: Payments may be invoiced and paid in 3 partial payments or at the completion of the entire project. They will be paid based on the satisfactory deliverables and completion of the 3 categories listed below. Additional services related to this timber sale as approved by the District Project Manager will be negotiated if needed. All services must be completed by May 1, 2024.

https://www.demandstar.com/app/agencies/florida/suwannee-river-water-management-district/procurement https://www.demandstar.com/app/agencies/florida/suwannee-river-water-management-district/procurement https://network.demandstar.com/business-support/

Payment Schedule:

96 acres Marked 96 acres Marked 96 plots Cruised

Mailed invoices should be sent to:

Steve Carpenter Suwannee River Water Management District

9225 CR 49

Live Oak, Florida 32060

Emailed invoices should be sent to:

AccountsPayable@SRWMD.org and SCC@SRWMD.org

Challenge of Solicitation Process: If potential respondent protests any provisions of this ITB, a notice of intent to protest shall be filed with the District in writing within 72 hours after the posting of the invitation to bid on the District’s website. “Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120 of Florida Statutes.”

Challenge of District’s Intent to Award Contract: If respondent intends to protest District’s intent to award Contract, the notice of intent to protest must be filed in writing within 72 hours after posting of a notice of intent to award the contract and the respondent shall file a formal written protest within ten (10) days after filing of notice of intent to protest. Any respondent who files a formal written protest pursuant to Chapter 28-110, Florida Administrative Code, and Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, shall post with the District at the time of filing the formal written protest, a bond pursuant to Section 287.042(2)(c), Florida Statutes (2019).

Failure to file a notice of intent to protest or failure to file a formal written protest within the time prescribed in Chapter 28-110, Florida Administrative Code, and Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. More specifically, “Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120 of Florida Statutes.”

Americans with Disabilities Act: The District does not discriminate upon the basis of any individual’s disability status. This nondiscrimination policy involves every aspect of the District’s functions including one’s access to, participation, employment, or treatment in its programs or activities. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact Sharon Hingson, Records and Contracts Manager, at

386.362.1001 or 800.226.1066 (Florida only).

Minority Business Enterprises: The District recognizes fair and open competition as a basic tenet of public procurement. Respondents doing business with the District are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, handicap, age, or sex. The District encourages participation by minority business enterprises. Whenever two or more service providers are ranked equally, a minority business enterprise shall be given preference in the award process.

mailto:AccountsPayable@SRWMD.org mailto:SCC@SRWMD.org

Veteran’s Preference: In the absence of a minority business enterprise, whenever two or more service providers are ranked equally, a veteran-owned business enterprise shall be given preference in the award process.

Public Entity Crime: Section 287.133(2)(a), Florida Statutes, states “A person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for a public entity crime may not submit a bid on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity, may not submit a bid on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit bids on leases of real property to a public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant under a contract with any public entity, and may not transact business with any public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in s.287.017 for CATEGORY TWO for a period of 36 months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendor list.”

Scrutinized Company: Section 287.135, Florida Statutes, states “A company is ineligible to, and may not, bid on, submit a proposal for, or enter into or renew a contract with an agency or local governmental entity for goods or services of:

a. Any amount if, at the time of bidding on, submitting a proposal for, or entering into or renewing such contract, the company is on the Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List, created pursuant to s. 215.4725, or is engaged in a boycott of Israel; or

b. One million dollars or more if, at the time of bidding on, submitting a proposal for, or entering into or renewing such contract, the company:

1. Is on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, created pursuant to

s. 215.473; or

2. Is engaged in business operations in Cuba or Syria.”

Drug Free Workplace Act: The selected bidder shall certify that it has established a drug-free workplace.

Insurance Requirements: If awarded, bidder shall represent and guarantee that all employees, agents, servants or representatives of the respondent, and all employees, agents, servants, or representatives of subcontractors are covered by workers' compensation insurance. Prior to entering into a contract with the District, respondent agrees to furnish the District certificates of insurance on all insurance, naming District as additional insured for items 2 and 3 below, providing evidence that respondent has in full force and effect the following minimum insurance with insurers authorized to do business in the State of Florida:

1) Workers' compensation insurance as required above.

2) Motor vehicular liability insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000 combined single limit which insurance shall be applicable to any and all vehicles utilized by the respondent to provide the services requested by District.

3) General liability insurance for all services rendered by the respondent for the requested services with a minimum of $1,000,000 personal and advertising injury and $1,000,000 general aggregate.

The certificate of insurance shall also provide that District shall be notified in writing by the carrier at least 30 days prior to any cancellation of said insurance.

Rejection of Responses: The District reserves the right to reject any and all bids or other proposals submitted in response to District invitation. District also reserves the right to waive any minor deviations in an otherwise valid proposal.

Respondents to this solicitation or persons acting on their behalf may not contact, between the release of the solicitation and the end of the 72-business hour period following the agency posting the notice of intended award any employee or officer of the District concerning any aspect of this solicitation, except in writing as indicated above.

Violation of this provision may be grounds for rejecting a response.

Contract Term: The contract term will be from the date of execution through May 1, 2024

SECTION 5 - SCOPE OF WORK

This project is for the sale preparation of the 192-acre Steinhatchee Springs #24 Timber Sale in southwestern Lafayette County. The timber sale consists of 33-year-old planted slash pine that is to be marked for a second thinning. The stand is to be cruised for harvest volume estimates after the timber marking.

The project area is in the Steinhatchee Springs WMA. 500 or more square inches of daylight florescent orange material must be worn while performing work during the scheduled hunt dates. See the WMA brochure for more information.

Timber Marking:

Timber marking is required on 192 acres leaving 40-50 square feet of basal area per acre of the best quality trees evenly distributed across the stand. The existing skid trails and take rows from the previous thinning will be used for access. Prior to beginning the timber marking, a mandatory on-site meeting with the District Project Manager is required to discuss project details. The District Project manager will inspect the timber marking at regular intervals to provide feedback as to the acceptability of the marking performance.

• All take trees are to be marked on two sides with blue paint at eye level in a manner that will be visible to the feller-buncher operator.

• The leave trees must average 40-50 square feet of basal area per acre of the best quality trees evenly distributed across the stand.

• All paint should face the take rows unless otherwise approved by the District Project manager.

• All marked trees for harvest are to be accessible by harvesting equipment.

Timber Cruising:

Following the Timber Marking, cruise the Sale Area and provide a plot location map. All plots will have flagging with the plot number and the cruiser’s initials tied around the first tally tree with the knot facing the plot center. Flagging will also be inserted into the ground at the plot center.

All plots will be tallied in a clockwise direction starting from the first tallied tree. Payment will be made based on satisfactory performance following an audit conducted by District staff. Data audited must have less than 2% error for tree diameters, tree tally, and product class and less than 5% error for tree heights. If multiple audited plots within the stand return egregious errors, the whole stand will need to be re-cruised prior to payment.

• Install 96 10 BAF plots evenly distributed across the area to estimate harvest volumes.

• Provide plot data, stand, and stock table with statistics, and estimates of harvest volumes (tons) by pine product class.

• Post-harvest residual volume estimates are not required.

SECTION 6 – BID RESPONSE FORM

Invitation to Bid 23/24-005 OPS

Forestry Consulting Services Steinhatchee Springs #24 Timber Sale Preparation

Bidder Information - Submit this form as discussed in Section 3. Submit the reference form below if the bidder’s company has not performed forestry consulting services for District in the last three (3) years.

Company Name ___________________________________________________

Company Representative ___________________________________________________

FEID Number ___________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________

Email Address ___________________________________________________

Office Phone Number ___________________________________________________

Cell Phone Number ___________________________________________________

Signature and Date ___________________________________________________

Bid Information

Service Units $ Per Unit Rate Total Service Rate $

Timber Marking 192 acres

Timber Cruising

96 plots

Total Project Cost $: ________________

Invitation to Bid 23/24-005 OPS

Forestry Consulting Services Steinhatchee Springs #24 Timber Sale Preparation

Similar Project References

Complete and return with the bid response if you have not performed Forestry Consulting Services for the District in the last three (3) years. Additional reference material will be accepted.

Completed Projects:

AGENCY/COMPANY: __________________________________________________________

CONTACT: _______________________________ TELEPHONE: ______________________

NAME OF PROJECT: __________________________________________________________

DESCRIPTION: _______________________________________________________________

PROJECT DATES: _________________________ PROJECT COST: ___________________

AGENCY/COMPANY: __________________________________________________________

CONTACT: _______________________________ TELEPHONE: ______________________

NAME OF PROJECT: __________________________________________________________

DESCRIPTION: _______________________________________________________________

AGENCY/COMPANY: __________________________________________________________

CONTACT: _______________________________ TELEPHONE: ______________________

NAME OF PROJECT: __________________________________________________________

DESCRIPTION: _______________________________________________________________