Merritt SRA Unit 4_Shelterbelts only.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 tree clearing services across approximately 216.6 acres, including removal of eastern red cedar, Rocky Mountain juniper, and scattered ponderosa pine using mulching and cutting/piling methods. Work must be divided 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 must be submitted by January 28, 2026, with state responses posted by February 4, 2026. Electronic bids are due via ShareFile by February 10, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Central Time. The state intends 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 term runs from execution through June 30, 2027, with potential extension by mutual agreement.

Pricing is negotiable, with bidders permitted to propose reduced per-acre thinning rates in exchange for removing and utilizing merchantable timber, subject to specific removal conditions. No set-aside designations are specified for this solicitation. The project is subject to legislative appropriation of funds, with no advance payments permitted. Contractors must comply with standard state contractual provisions, including civil rights laws, Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, and specific insurance coverage: $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. Bidders must be registered with the Nebraska Secretary of State and meet all state contractual requirements.