Merritt SRA Unit 1_Shelterbelt.pdf

This is a tree clearing service contract solicitation issued by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission for work at Merritt Reservoir State Recreational Area in Cherry County, Nebraska. The project requires comprehensive removal of eastern red cedar, Rocky Mountain juniper, and scattered ponderosa pine across approximately 216.6 acres using mulching and cutting/piling methods. Contractors must divide work into units of at least 50 acres, with 50 percent completion required in the first year and the remaining 50 percent in the second year. A mandatory solicitation conference is scheduled for January 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 88079 State Highway 97, Valentine, Nebraska. Written questions are due by January 28, 2026, with state responses posted by February 4, 2026. Electronic bids must be submitted via ShareFile by February 10, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Central Time. The state plans to post an Intent to Award by February 20, 2026, with contract finalization by March 4, 2026, and award by March 5, 2026. The contract will run from execution through June 30, 2027, with potential extension by mutual agreement.

Contractors may negotiate reduced per-acre thinning rates in exchange for removing and utilizing merchantable timber, subject to specific removal conditions, allowing for potential cost offsets through marketable material recovery. Insurance requirements include $2,000,000 Commercial General Liability, statutory Workers' Compensation, and $1,000,000 Commercial Automobile Liability. Work is restricted to dry or frozen ground conditions and limited by specific timeframes to avoid interference with campground operations and events such as the Nebraska Star Party. The project is subject to legislative appropriation of funds, with no advance payments permitted. Contractors must be registered with the Nebraska Secretary of State and comply with all state contractual requirements, including civil rights laws and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. No specific set-aside designations are mentioned in the solicitation materials.