P2024205_Crocker_South_Unit_FINAL.pdf

State of California -The Natural Resources Agency GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CHARLTON H. BONHAM, Director North Central Region 1701 Nimbus Road Suite A Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 www.wildlife.ca.gov

(Rev. 7/18/2024) Conserving California’s Wildlife Since 1870 Page 1

December 9, 2024

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Crocker Meadows Wildlife Area Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal Permit Number P2024205

Legal Basis of Authority

Pursuant to Fish and Game Code Sections 1010 and 1745.1(a), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), serving as an agent of the State of California (STATE), offers this Request for Proposal (RFP) to issue a Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal (Grazing). The proposed vegetation disposal activity will be conducted with non-exclusive rights on approximately 1,670 acres of real Premises known as the Crocker South Unit, referred to as the Premises, on the Crocker Meadows Wildlife Area, in the County of Plumas.

A successful proposal will convey flexibility, innovative ideas, and an understanding of the unique aspects of operating on a publicly owned Premises with the overall goals of maintaining or enhancing deer summer range while also protecting habitats on the Premises. The CDFW is requesting proposals from livestock owners and operators who have experience working on public or conservation easement protected lands, and can address the specific wildlife habitat goals found within this RFP, stated generally on page five and more specifically in Exhibit B, the Site Operation Plan. One candidate will be selected to enter into a one year and seven-month agreement.

Proposals must be received no later than January 24th, 2024, at 3:30pm. A minimum of one original and one copy of the proposal must be submitted.

In the opinion of the CDFW, this RFP is complete and without need of explanation.

However, if you have questions, or need clarifying information, you may submit your inquiry in writing to the following Administrative Contact person. You may also ask questions at the site inspection.

CDFW Administrative Contact: CDFW Site Manager:

Name: Gail Turner Name: Dustin Wallis Title: Contract Analyst Title: Environmental Scientist Address: 1701 Nimbus Road, Suite

A Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

Address: 1701 Nimbus Road Suite A, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

Phone: (916) 358–1075 Phone: (916) 282-8977 Email: gail.turner@wildlife.ca.gov Email: dustin.wallis@wildlife.ca.gov http://www.wildlife.ca.gov/ mailto:gail.turner@wildlife.ca.gov mailto:dustin.wallis@wildlife.ca.gov

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Request for Proposal – P2024205

Site Inspection Location 39.848779, -120.371298 Beckwourth, CA 96129 It is mandatory that you inspect the site before submitting a proposal. Site inspection(s) will be held on January 8, 2025, at 11:00am.

NOTE: No verbal information given will be binding upon the STATE or the CDFW, unless such information is issued in writing as an official addendum.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION PAGE

A. Objectives for Permit

B. Property Description and Vegetation Disposal Overview

C. Bidder ’s Minimum Qualifications

D. Proposals

E. Permit Term and Fee

F. Proposal Requirements and Information

1. Key Action Dates

2. Mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference and Site Inspection

3. Questions and Answers

4. Proposal Format Requirements

5. Submission of Proposal

6. Evaluation and Ranking

7. Interviews (If Needed)

8. Basis of Award

9. Disposition of Proposal

10. Protest

11. Finalization of Site Operation Plan (Exhibit B)

12. Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal Award

13. Permit Execution and Performance

14. Sample Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal

15. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Requirement ………………..……21

16. Exhibit A: Map .................................................................................................... i

17. Exhibit A-1: Legal Description of Site ............................................................... ii

18. Exhibit B: Site Operation Plan...........................................................................iii

G. Required Attachments............................................................................................ ix

Attachment 1 – Required Attachment Check List ................................................ ix Attachment 2 – Transmittal Letter .......................................................................... x Attachment 3 – Statement of Qualifications.......................................................... xi Attachment 4 – Description of Personnel and Organizational Structure............ xii Attachment 5 – Proposal for Goal 1 .....................................................................xiii Attachment 6 – Proposal for Goal 2 .....................................................................xiii Attachment 7 – Proposal for Goal 3 .....................................................................xiii Attachment 8 – Proposal for Goal 4 .....................................................................xiii

Attachment 9 – Proposal for Goal 5 .....................................................................xiii Attachment 10 – Proposal for Goal 6 ...................................................................xiii Attachment 11 – Disclosure Statements ............................................................. xiv Attachment 12 – Fee Proposal Form ................................................................... xv Attachment 13 – Bidder References and Reference Letters ............................. xvi Attachment 14 – Site Inspection Certification .................................................... xvii Attachment 15 – Proposal Certification Sheet ...................................................xviii Attachment 16 – Authorization Document ........................................................... xx

A. Objectives for Permit

The CDFW seeks a Permittee who can conduct a vegetation disposal operation on the WA that will be consistent with the overall goals of maintaining and enhancing mule deer summer range while also protecting habitat on the Premises. Vegetation Disposal on the Crocker Meadows Wildlife Area will be expected to follow the general guidelines described in the Land Management Plan for the Crocker Meadows Wildlife Area, which can be found at (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/mgmtplans) or provided upon request. A long-term objective of the CDFW is to use vegetation disposal activities to encourage and support critical mule deer summer range and fawning habitat, as well as study wolf and livestock interactions on the Crocker Meadows Wildlife Area.

B. Property Description and Vegetation Disposal Overview

The Crocker Meadows Wildlife Area is located on the Northern edge of Sierra Valley in Plumas County and is part of the CDFW North Central Region. It is composed of approximately 1,670 acres in a mixture of converted pastureland, and mixed shrubland with sparse timber. The Premises was acquired to provide habitat for the migratory Loyalton-Truckee deer herd. The Premises is completely fenced with a permanent corral on site, with multiple gated access points on Beckwourth-Genessee road. Water sources include seasonal creeks and drainages. The Department does not guarantee water availability during the grazing season. The converted pastureland consists of a mixture of annual and perennial grasses, with a target minimum RDM of 1,000lbs - 1,250lbs at the conclusion of the grazing season. The permit supports 45 AU’s per month for four and one half months, for a total of 202.5 AUs each season. The grazing season goes from June 1 to October 15 during each year of the permit term.

Monitoring of the Premises will be conducted by CDFW staff, with the possibility of additional monitoring taking place by University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), or other agencies. The Department is looking for a Permittee that is willing to work collaboratively with The Department on a variety of different land and wildlife management goals, including improving wildlife habitat and studying gray wolf-livestock interaction. The Department will require the Permittee to collaborate with CDFW and its partners, including but not limited to, UC Berkely, UC Davis, and Wildlife Services, on wolf -livestock interaction research. On site meetings between the Department and the Permittee will occur at a minimum of twice per grazing season, with additional meetings scheduled in coordination between The Department, and the Permittee on an as needed basis.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/mgmtplans/

C. Bidder’s Minimum Qualifications

Bidders will be required to submit a statement of qualifications that describes how they meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Two references and reference letters in the past five years or one references in the past two years that can attest to the potential Permittee’s experience in the implementation of a Vegetation disposal agreement performed on public or conservation easement protected lands;

2. Five or more years of experience of wildlife-friendly grazing practices, preferably in habitat restoration and alongside predators;

3. Ability to respond to emergencies on Crocker Meadows Wildlife Area within two hours during the vegetation disposal period;

4. Bidders must be in possession of the appropriate number of livestock needed to accomplish the objectives of the Permit.

D. Proposals

All proposals must conform to the following parameters:

1. Vegetation disposal activities may not begin prior to June 1, 2025, and may not continue past December 31, 2026.

2. A maximum of 45 AU’s per month.

3. Only cattle may be grazed.

4. An average of 1,000lbs - 1,250 lbs./acre of Residual Dry Matter (RDM) will remain on the Premises at the end of the annual grazing period.

Proposal packages must be prepared in accordance with the Proposal Format Requirements identified in Section F-4 of this RFP. Written proposals must contain sufficient information for the CDFW to determine which potential Permittee will be the best suited to enter into a Permit agreement with the CDFW on terms most advantageous to the CDFW. Proposals may include information that is not specifically requested in this RFP if such information is pertinent to the proposal.

In ranking proposals, the CDFW will consider how the proposed activities may further or conflict with the CDFW goals for the Premises.

E. Permit Term and Fee

If awarded, the term of this Permit shall be one year and seven months commencing June 1, 2025, or upon approval of the STATE, whichever is later (Commencement Date) and terminating on December 31, 2026, with such rights of termination as are set forth in the Permit. The STATE shall have the right to delay the Commencement Date if the STATE determines that the condition of the Premises warrant such a delay.

The annual grazing period will be four- and one-half months, starting June 1, 2025, and ending October 15, 2025.

The annual permit fee will be calculated as the product of the proposed fee amount per AU, times 45 AU’s per month, times four and one half months of grazing, for a total of 202.5 AU’s per year.

If an award is made, the following terms are expected to be included in the Permit:

Permittee shall have the option to extend the term for three additional one-year period(s), commencing when the prior term (including any previous extension(s) expires. In order to exercise an option, Permittee must give written notice to the STATE at least 90 days and not more than 365 days before the date the extended term would commence. See the Sample Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal for more details.

If the option to extend is exercised, the fee for the option period(s) shall be calculated as follows: The fee will remain the same as the original price offered in the initial proposal.

The fee shall be due and payable in lawful United States funds, without demand, offset or deduction, as shown in the payment schedule below. If the commencement date is delayed, the STATE may adjust the Fee for the first year of the term as provided in the Permit.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

No. PAYMENT DUE AMOUNT PERIOD COVERED 1 May 15, 2025 $XX,XXX.XX June 1, 2025 - October 15, 2025 2 May 15, 2026 $XX,XXX.XX June 1, 2026 - October 15, 2026

No credit against the Fee or any other sums payable under the Permit shall be provided to Permittee for any contributions (including, without limitation, work done or materials or supplies furnished) by Permittee.

F. Proposal Requirements and Information

1. Key Action Dates

EVENT DATE

RFP Available December 9, 2024, to January 20, 2025 Mandatory Site Inspection January 8, 2025, at 11:00am Proposal Submission Deadline January 24, 2025, at 3:30pm Proposal Evaluation and Ranking February 3, 2025 Interviews, If Necessary February 7, 2025 Final Selection/Notice of Intent to Award

February 12, 2025

Proposed Award Date February 14, 2025 Finalize Exhibit B February 21, 2025 Proposed Commencement Date June 1, 2025

2. Mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference and Site Inspection

a. A mandatory site inspection is scheduled at 11:00am on January 8, 2025, at the corrals on the east side of Beckwourth-Genessee Road at approximately

2.2 miles north of the intersection of Highway 70 and Beckwourth-Genesee Road for the purpose of discussing questions regarding this RFP and touring the site. No verbal information given will be binding upon the STATE unless such information is issued in writing as an official addendum, so the site inspection questions and original or corrected answers will be compiled and posted either separately, or in combination with the questions and answers addressed in Section 3, below.

b. In the event a bidder is unable to attend the mandatory pre-proposal site inspection, an authorized representative may attend in their behalf . The representative may only sign in for one bidder. No proposal will be accepted unless the bidder or bidder’s authorized representative was in attendance.

c. For bidders who need assistance due to a disability, reasonable accommodations will be provided by the CDFW upon request for the mandatory site inspection. The bidder must contact the CDFW Administrative Contact person listed on page one no later than the fifth working day prior to the scheduled date and time of the site inspection to arrange for a reasonable accommodation.

3. Questions and Answers

Bidders requiring clarification of the intent or content of this RFP, or on procedural matters regarding the competitive Proposal process, may request clarification by submitting questions in an email, or envelope clearly marked, "Questions Relating to RFP P2024205” to the CDFW Administrative Contact person listed on page one. To ensure a response, questions must be received by the CDFW no less than seven business days prior to the proposal submission deadline. At the sole discretion of the CDFW, questions may be paraphrased by the CDFW for clarity.

Written responses to all questions will be collectively compiled and posted on caleprocure.ca.gov no later than five days prior to the submission deadline. It is the responsibility of the bidder to check for the list of questions and answers associated with this RFP.

https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/index.aspx

4. Proposal Format Requirements

For each of the required items listed below, the bidder’s name and page number should be placed in the upper right corner of each page. All written responses must be submitted on 8.5 x 11-inch paper using ¾” margins, 12-point Arial font, single spaced, and avoid non-standard abbreviations. Each attachment shall not exceed two single-sided 8.5”x11” pages. Hand-written attachments are not prohibited but must be legible or they will be rejected. A minimum of one original and one copy of the proposal must be submitted. Proposals should be organized as follows:

Attachment 1 – Required Attachment Checklist Form provided in this RFP. A checklist to be included with the submission of proposals to ensure that the proposal is complete.

Attachment 2 – Transmittal Letter

1. List the bidder’s name, mailing address, phone, and e-mail. The bidder must sign the transmittal letter in ink and be authorized to bind the proposing firm.

The name and title of the person signing the proposal must be typed below the signature.

2. The transmittal letter must state whether the bidder, or any individual who will perform work under the Permit, has a possible conflict of interest (e.g., employment by the CDFW) and, if so, the nature of that conflict. The CDFW reserves the right to cancel an award if any interest disclosed from any source could either give the appearance of a conflict of interest, or cause speculation as to the objectivity of the bidder. Such determination regarding any questions of conflict of interest shall be solely within the discretion of the CDFW.

Attachment 3 – Statement of Qualifications The statement of qualifications will describe the knowledge, education, experience, and abilities leading to the bidder in meeting or exceeding each of the minimum qualifications. The statement of qualifications will also include the number of reference letters required in Section C, minimum qualifications, above.

Attachment 4 – Description of Personnel and Organizational Structure

1. List all personnel who will be working on the Permit and their titles;

2. Brief, descriptive statement indicating the bidder’s credentials to perform the activities sought under this RFP;

3. Brief description of the bidder’s background, organizational history, and years in business;

4. Brief statement of how long the bidder has been performing the activities required by this RFP;

5. Location of office(s).

Attachments 5 through 10 – Proposals for Each Goal (1-6) Provide one written proposal of how you or your firm would operate to accomplish each of the six goals listed below. Each proposal must be submitted on separate sheet(s) of paper. Proposals must contain enough detail for the CDFW to score each proposal according to the established criteria. A sample proposal evaluation and scoring sheet is included herein.

Permit Goals:

1. Vegetation goals on the Premises include even use by cattle across the

Premises, avoiding further invasion of cheatgrass, and a minimum stubble height of any non invasive grass of 6”, and an average of

1,000lbs of RDM per acre on 0-10% slopes and 1,250lbs of RDM per acre on 10-40% slopes by October 15. Please explain the techniques you will use to accomplish the vegetation management goals and your past experience using these methods, particularly for perennial grasslands and meadows similar to those on the Premises.

2. Describe a plan to avoid negative impacts on riparian areas and wetlands (i.e., streams, ponds, seeps and springs) and sensitive habitat associated with those areas.

3. Describe a plan and your experience with minimizing impacts on bitterbrush, willows and shrubs; preventing overutilization of meadows;

and preventing heavy trailing or other damage to the range.

4. Describe your expected presence on the Premises and how you plan to reduce impacts on wildlife. Explain how you manage your cattle operations to avoid disturbance of wildlife (e.g. OHV use, where and when will calving occur). Additionally, please describe your plan for ingress and egress of cattle

5. Describe your experience in dealing with livestock predator interactions, including expected predations by Gray Wolf.

6. During the term of the permit, the State may determine that conditions warrant a change in the grazing term, which would result in a reduction in AUMs and/or rapid removal of livestock from an area to protect rare, threatened and endangered species. Describe your contingency plan to deal with such an event, including resources you have available to respond to the change within the given timelines in the Sample Excess Vegetation Removal Template.

Attachment 11 – Disclosure Statements

1. Description of any/all claims or legal actions that have been asserted or prosecuted against the bidder within the last five years arising out of acts or omissions of the bidder in connection with grazing permits or grazing operations or agreements otherwise similar to those proposed under this RFP. State the status of each claim and legal action. Claims should be fully disclosed regardless of whether they involved litigation, arbitration, or other formal or informal dispute resolution processes. The disclosures required under this provision also apply to any of the individuals who will be a part of the agreement.

2. A statement as to whether, in the last ten years, the bidder has filed (or had filed against him/her/them) any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, whether voluntary or involuntary, or undergone the appointment of a receiver, trustee, or assignee for the benefit of creditors; and if so, an explanation providing relevant details.

Attachment 12– Fee Proposal Form Form provided in this RFP. Provide a proposed Fee per AU per month. All costs associated with the proposed performance of the desired outcomes and complying with the provisions of the Permit should be considered by the bidder when submitting this Fee proposal.

Attachment 13 - Bidder References and Reference Letters Form provided in this RFP. Provide the applicable references and reference letters as detailed in the Minimum Qualifications section.

Attachment 14 - Site Inspection Certification Form provided in this RFP. This form must be signed by the bidder, or an authorized representative, and co-signed by the Site Manager on the day of the mandatory site inspection to certify attendance.

Attachment 15 – Proposal Certification Form Form provided in this RFP. (Instructions on page 2 of this form).

Attachment 16 – Authorization Document Attach the appropriate document to the provided check-form as described. See page 41 below.

5. Submission of Proposal

a. All proposals must be submitted under sealed cover and received by the CDFW at the location indicated below on or before the date and time identified above in Section F, Proposal Requirements and Information, Item

(1) Key Action Dates. The sealed cover must be plainly marked with the RFP number and title, must show the complete bidder name and address, and must be marked with "DO NOT OPEN," as shown in the following example:

Gail Turner P2024205 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Bidder Name Bidder Address Bidder City, State Zip

DO NOT OPEN

Proposals not submitted under sealed cover will be rejected and returned unopened to the bidder.

Any proposal received at the above address after the proposal submission date and time specified in Section F-1 (Key Action Dates) will NOT be considered. It is the CDFW's policy to make every effort to ensure that all proposals have been received and properly time stamped; however, bidders are ultimately responsible for ensuring timely receipt of their proposal.

Bidders may verify receipt of their proposal by contacting the Administrative Contact identified in this RFP prior to the proposal evaluation and ranking.

A minimum of one original and one copy of the proposal must be submitted.

b. Bidders assume the risk of the method of dispatch chosen. The CDFW assumes no responsibility for delays caused by any delivery service.

Postmarking by the due date shall not substitute for actual proposal receipt by the CDFW. The time of delivery will be determined by the clock in the CDFW’s office. Late proposals will not be accepted, and no additional time will be granted to any bidder. Proposals may not be delivered orally, by facsimile transmission, or by other telecommunication, or electronic means.

c. All proposals shall include the documents identified in Section G-4, Required

Attachment Checklist (Attachment 1). Proposals not including the proper required attachments shall be deemed non-responsive. A non-responsive proposal is one that does not meet the basic proposal requirements.

d. All documents requiring a signature must bear an original signature of a person authorized to bind the bidder.

e. Mail or deliver proposals to the following address:

Gail Turner P2024205 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Bidder Name 1701 Nimbus Road Suite A Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

DO NOT OPEN

f. A proposal may be rejected if it is conditional or incomplete, or if it contains any alterations of form or other irregularities of any kind. The CDFW may reject any or all proposals and may waive an immaterial deviation in a proposal. The CDFW's waiver of an immaterial deviation shall in no way modify this RFP or excuse the bidder from full compliance with all requirements, if awarded the Permit.

g. Costs incurred by the bidder for developing proposals, participation in mandatory site inspection and/or interviews, and any other costs incurred in connection with this RFP, and in anticipation of a Permit award, are entirely the responsibility of the bidder and shall not be charged to the STATE or the

CDFW.

h. An individual who is authorized to bind the bidder shall sign the Proposal

Certification Form. If the bidder is a corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, the signature should indicate the title or position that the individual holds in the entity. Any unsigned proposal will be rejected.

i. A bidder may modify a proposal after its submission only by withdrawing the original proposal and resubmitting a new proposal prior to the proposal submission deadline. Bidder modifications offered in any other manner, oral or written, will not be considered.

j. A bidder may withdraw a proposal by submitting a written withdrawal request to the CDFW, signed by the bidder or an authorized agent. A bidder may thereafter submit a new proposal prior to the proposal submission deadline.

Proposals may not be withdrawn without cause after the proposal submission deadline.

k. The CDFW may modify this RFP prior to the time fixed for submission of proposals by issuing an addendum to all parties who received a proposal package.

l. The CDFW reserves the right to reject all proposals. The CDFW is not required to award a Permit.

m. Before submitting a response to this solicitation, bidders should review the response, correct all errors, and confirm compliance with the RFP requirements.

n. The bidder is required only upon the date and time specified for the site inspection identified in this RFP to inspect the Premises and investigate the conditions, character, and quality of the site. The Premises will be made available in As-Is condition. The CDFW makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees, express or implied, regarding the Premises, including its fitness or suitability for bidders’ purposes; the condition or quality of soils; organic certification of any pasture or field; existence, adequacy, or condition of fencing; or availability of water or electric power, none of which are guaranteed. No changes to the Fee amount will be made due to a lack of careful examination of the site.

o. Questions on this RFP must be presented in writing to the Administrative

Contact no later than seven business days before the proposal submission deadline.

p. The Permit will be an agreement between the CDFW and only one Permittee, which must be an individual or a legal entity, such as a corporation or partnership. Proposals submitted by any informal association of persons or entities will be rejected. If the bidder is a partnership (General Partnership or Limited Partnership), a copy of the partnership agreement must be provided.

The date of such an agreement must pre-date the proposal submission deadline date.

q. The provisions of the CDFW’s Permit are not negotiable.

r. No oral understanding or agreement shall be binding on either party.

s. By submitting a proposal, the bidder acknowledges that the bidder has read and understands this RFP and is in agreement to the provisions of the sample Permit included as part of this RFP package.

t. If any provision of this RFP is declared by a court to be illegal or in conflict with any law, the validity of the remaining terms and provisions shall not be affected, and the rights and obligations of the CDFW and the bidder shall be construed and enforced as if this RFP did not contain the particular provision held to be invalid.

6. Evaluation and Ranking

a. All proposals received by the submission deadline will be reviewed by the

CDFW to determine compliance with mandatory proposal requirements as specified in this RFP. If the CDFW determines that a proposal is not considered fully responsive and it is material to the RFP requirements, the proposal may be rejected.

b. Proposals accepted under the terms of this RFP will be evaluated and ranked by an evaluation team which may consist of a CDFW Wildlife Area Manager, regional CDFW representative, CDFW Site Manager, CDFW State Gray Wolf Specialist, and CDFW Research Partners. Composition of the evaluation team is subject to change at the sole discretion of the CDFW.

c. At least two references are required. The CDFW will review each reference letter and attempt to contact each reference by phone. References will be asked to describe the prior Vegetation disposal agreement transaction they had with the bidder, and to answer the following questions:

1. Did the firm/individual satisfactorily complete the obligations within the terms of the agreement? (Yes or No)

2. Did the firm/individual pay the fee(s) on time? (Yes or No)

3. Was the firm/individual knowledgeable in best farming practices to avoid negative impacts to the Premises? (Yes or No)

If any reference provided by the bidder answers “No” to any of the questions, the proposal will be disqualified on the grounds that the bidder did not meet the minimum qualifications, and the proposal is therefore non-responsive.

d. Proposals that contain false or misleading statements, or which provide references that do not support an attribute or condition claimed by the bidder, may be rejected.

e. The CDFW reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to request clarifications of proposals or to conduct discussions for the purpose of clarification with any or all bidders. The purpose of any such discussions shall be to ensure full understanding of the proposal. If clarifications are made as a result of such discussion, the bidder shall put such clarifications in writing. Bidders may not submit supplemental information without the approval of the CDFW.

f. The evaluation team may consider information that is pertinent to the bidders’ qualifications, regardless of whether such information is specifically requested or included in the criteria listed in this RFP.

g. Proposals will be ranked based on the criteria set forth below:

Rating/Scoring Criteria Points

• Qualifications (SOQ), References and Disclosure Pass/Fail

• Knowledge, Experience, Organization 10 points

• Ability to Respond to Emergencies 10 points

• Proposal for Goal 1 15 points

• Proposal for Goal 2 15 points

• Proposal for Goal 3 15 points

• Proposal for Goal 4 15 points

• Proposal for Goal 5 15 points

• Proposal for Goal 6 15 points

• Proposed Fee 40 points

Total Possible Points: 150 Points

The method of evaluation and scoring is as follows:

Statement of Qualifications

Pass Meets minimum qualifications.

Fail Did not provide a SOQ; or did not meet minimum qualifications.

Reference Check

Pass Reference provided a “Yes” response to each question.

Fail A “No” response to any question will be grounds to deem proposal non-responsive.

Disclosure Statement

Pass The bidder did not disclose any claims of legal actions within the last five years or bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings within the past ten years.

Fail The bidder did disclose claims of legal actions within the last five years or bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings within the past ten years.

Knowledge, Experience, and Organization Information

0-10 Rating of the bidders experience and organization information and its alignment with the goals and objectives of the permit.

Ability to Respond to Emergencies

0-10 Rating of the bidders estimated time to respond to emergencies

Goal 1

Vegetation goals on the Premises include even use by cattle across the Premises, avoiding further invasion of cheatgrass, and a minimum stubble height of any non-invasive grass of 6”, and an average of 1,000lbs of RDM per acre on 0-10% slopes and 1,250lbs of RDM per acre on 10-40% slopes by October 15. Please explain the techniques you will use to accomplish the vegetation management goals and your past experience using these methods, particularly for perennial grasslands and meadows similar to those on the Premises.

0 Did not respond or proposal indicates an apparent lack of desired skill set and knowledge.

5 Proposal indicates some knowledge, but not enough information provided to determine if goal could be met.

10 Proposal would meet the goal with no negative impacts.

15 Proposal would meet the goal with no negative impacts, was innovative in approach, and/or showed best grazing practices.

Goal 2 Describe a plan to avoid negative impacts on riparian areas and wetlands (i.e., streams, ponds, seeps and springs) and sensitive habitat associated with those areas.

0 Did not respond or proposal indicates an apparent lack of desired skill set and knowledge.

5 Proposal indicates some knowledge, but not enough information provided to determine if goal could be met.

10 Proposal would meet the goal with no negative impacts.

15 Proposal would meet the goal with no negative impacts, was innovative in approach, and/or showed best grazing practices.

Goal 3 Describe a plan and your experience with minimizing impacts on bitterbrush, willows and shrubs; preventing overutilization of meadows; and preventing heavy trailing or other damage to the range.

0 Did not respond or proposal indicates an apparent lack of desired skill set and knowledge.

5 Proposal indicates some knowledge, but not enough information provided to determine if goal could be met.

10 Proposal would meet the goal with no negative impacts.

15 Proposal would meet the goal with no negative impacts, was innovative in approach, and/or showed best grazing practices.

Goal 4

Describe your expected presence on the Premises and how you plan to reduce impacts on wildlife. Explain how you manage your cattle operations to avoid disturbance of wildlife (e.g. OHV use, where and when will calving occur). Additionally, please describe your plan for ingress and egress of cattle

0 Did not respond or proposal indicates an apparent lack of desired skill set and knowledge.

5 Proposal indicates some knowledge, but not enough information provided to determine if goal could be met.

10 Proposal would meet the goal with no negative impacts.

15 Proposal would meet the goal with no negative impacts, was innovative in approach, and/or showed best grazing practices.

Goal 5 Describe your experience in dealing with livestock predator interactions, including expected predations by Gray Wolf.

0 Did not respond or proposal indicates an apparent lack of desired skill set and knowledge.

5 Proposal indicates some knowledge, but not enough information provided to determine if goal could be met.

10 Proposal would meet the goal with no negative impacts.

15 Proposal would meet the goal with no negative impacts, was innovative in approach, and/or showed best grazing practices.

Goal 6

During the term of the permit, the State may determine that conditions warrant a change in the grazing term, which would result in a reduction in AUMs and/or rapid removal of livestock from an area to protect rare, threatened and endangered species. Describe your contingency plan to deal with such an event, including resources you have available to respond to the change within the given timelines in the Sample Excess Vegetation Removal Template.

0 Did not respond or proposal indicates an apparent lack of desired skill set and knowledge.

5 Proposal indicates some knowledge, but not enough information provided to determine if goal could be met.

10 Proposal would meet the goal with no negative impacts.

15 Proposal would meet the goal with no negative impacts, was innovative in approach, and/or showed best grazing practices.

Cost (40 points possible):

The highest price offered receives the maximum of 40 points. All other proposals will receive a score based on the following formula:

Cost proposal divided by the highest cost proposal x 40 points = Score

Example:

Highest bid is $40.00/AUM………………………………..….………..….40 points Next highest bid is $32.50/AUM…($32.50 divided by $40.00) times 40 = 32.5 points Next bid is $25.00/AUM………….($25.00 divided by $40.00) times 40 = 25 points

= TOTAL POINTS SCORED TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 150

7. Interviews (If Needed)

At the CDFW’s discretion, interviews may be held with bidders that ranked closely in the evaluation scoring, if any clarifications in the proposals are needed or as the method to break a tie. The interviews will be conducted by the evaluation team.

8. Basis of Award

The Permit award, if made, will be to the responsive, responsible bidder with the highest ranking based upon the evaluation criteria (and any interview results).

The evaluation process is designed to award the Permit not necessarily to the bidder offering the highest Fee, but rather to the bidder with the best combination of attributes based upon the evaluation criteria and that which presents the most advantageous proposal to the CDFW.

Proposal responses must comply with all RFP requirements. Failure to do so will disqualify the proposal. If it is determined not to be in the best interest of the STATE, the CDFW reserves the right to not award a Permit in response to this

RFP.

9. Disposition of Proposal

a. Upon proposal opening, all documents submitted in response to this RFP will become the Premises of the STATE. Selection or rejection of a proposal does not affect its ownership by the CDFW.

b. All proposal information, including detailed price and cost information, shall be held in confidence during the evaluation process. Upon the completion of the evaluation of proposal, indicated by a notice of intent to award the Permit, the proposals and associated materials shall be open for review by the public to the extent allowed by the California Public Records Act (Government Code sections 6250-6270 and 6275-6276.48). By submitting a proposal, the bidder acknowledges and accepts that the contents of the proposal and associated documents shall become open to public inspection. The guidelines for making CDFW-related Public Records Act requests are available on the CDFW/Fish and Game Commission Guidelines for Public Records Act Requests internet page, here:

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/General-Counsel/Public-Records-Requests

10. Protest

a. In Accordance with Public Contract Code Section 10345, if any bidder, prior to the award of an agreement, files a written protest with the Department of General Services (DGS) – Office of Legal Services and CDFW on the grounds that the (protesting) bidder is the lowest responsive responsible bidder, the agreement will not be awarded until either the protest has been withdrawn or the DGS has decided the matter. The protest must be sent to:

Department of General Services Office of Legal Services

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Attn: Bid Protest Coordinator Attn: State Owned Properties Management Unit

Address: 707 3rd Street, 7th Floor, Suite 7-330 West Sacramento, CA 95605

Address: P.O. Box 944209 Sacramento, CA 94244-

Email: OLSProtests@dgs.ca.g ov

Email: BMBstateownedproperti es@wildlife.ca.gov

Within five days after filing the initial protest, the protesting bidder must file with the DGS and the CDFW a detailed written statement specifying the grounds for the protest. Protests may be submitted by regular mail, courier, or personal delivery.

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/General-Counsel/Public-Records-Requests mailto:OLSProtests@dgs.ca.gov mailto:OLSProtests@dgs.ca.gov mailto:BMBstateownedproperties@wildlife.ca.gov mailto:BMBstateownedproperties@wildlife.ca.gov

11. Finalization of Site Operation Plan (Exhibit B)

The CDFW, in agreement with the awardee, may include the awardee’s proposals as addenda to the Site Operation Plan – Exhibit B. The CDFW reserves the option to strike-out or modify any portion of the winning proposal that conflicts with the Permit and/or Site Operations Plan. Revision to the standard language of the Permit is prohibited.

If the CDFW and the awardee initially selected by the CDFW are unable to agree on the provisions of the Site Operation Plan within a reasonable time, the Permit will be offered to the bidder ranked second by the evaluation team. The negotiation process described in Sections F-6 through F-9 and F-11 will be repeated until an agreement is executed.

12. Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal Award

a. Following the award, the CDFW will request insurance documentation from the awardee that will comply with Section 21 of this Agreement. These documents must be provided on or before the requested date. STATE execution of the Permit is contingent upon the verification of the insurance by the DGS – Office of Risk and Insurance Management. (The awardee should provide the Sample Permit and the “Land Use Agreements: Guide to Insurance Documentation Requirements” to their insurance broker when requesting the coverage and required documents.)

b. The awardee will be required to provide a completed Payee Data Record form (STD. 204) with the documents described above.

c. The CDFW reserves the right to rescind the award if any requested documentation is not provided by the awardee on or before the requested due date. The awardee is solely responsible for ensuring timely responses by any individual or firm they choose to create and provide the requested documents.

d. The CDFW reserves the right to offer the award to the next responsive, highest scoring bidder, or to issue a new RFP if the award is rescinded.

e. Upon receipt, the awardee will sign the original copy of the Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal, provided by CDFW electronically within ten business days after receipt from the CDFW.

f. This RFP and the Permittee selection processes do not obligate the CDFW and do not create rights, interests, or claims of entitlement in the apparent best evaluated potential Permittee or any vendor.

13. Permit Execution and Performance

a. Activities (including any pre-season preparation work) shall start no sooner than the Commencement Date indicated upon the Permit or upon delivery of a fully signed and executed Permit to the Permittee and the CDFW receipt of the first Fee, whichever occurs later.

b. All activities and obligations under the Permit shall be completed on or before the termination date of the Permit.

14. Sample Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal

This RFP includes, as a separate document, a sample Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal (Sample DFW 587) for review. The sample DFW 587 contains language that the CDFW expects to utilize for this Permit. Following award of the Permit, the CDFW will prepare a Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal, including exhibits for execution. By submitting a proposal, the successful bidder acknowledges that they have read and understand the provisions of the Permit and agree to sign and return the DFW 587 within ten business days of receipt if awarded.

15. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Requirements

The State of California seeks to realize the potential benefits of GenAI, through the development and deployment of GenAI tools, while balancing the risks of these new technologies.

Bidder/Offeror/Contractor must notify the State in writing if their solution or service includes, or makes available, any GenAI, including GenAI from third parties or subcontractors.

The State has developed a GenAI Reporting and Factsheet (STD 1000) to be completed by the Bidder/Offeror/Contractor.

Failure to submit the GenAI Reporting and Factsheet (STD 1000) will result in disqualification of the Bidder/Offeror/Contractor.

Failure to report GenAI to the State may void any resulting contract. The State reserves its right to seek any and all relief it may be entitled to as a result of such non-disclosure.

Upon receipt of a Bidder/Offeror/Contractor GenAI Reporting and Factsheet (STD 1000), the State reserves the right to incorporate GenAI Special Provisions into the final contract or reject bids/offers that present an unacceptable level of risk to the State.

https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std1000.pdf https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std1000.pdf https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std1000.pdf

16. Exhibit A: Map

17. Exhibit A-1: Legal Description of Site

18. Exhibit B: Site Operation Plan

Site Description The Premises is a part of the Crocker Meadows Wildlife Area (CWMA), and is within the North Central Region of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Premises is in Plumas County, approximately three miles north of Beckwourth CA. The CWMA was acquired to provide fawning habitat for the migratory Loyalton-Truckee deer herd. The CWMA consists of a South and a North Unit. The Premises lies in a portion of the South Unit east of Beckwourth-Genesee Road, and will be open to cattle to remove excess vegetation. The Premises is completely fenced with a permanent corral on site, with multiple gated access points on Beckwourth-Genessee road. Water sources include seasonal creeks and drainages. This area is approximately 1,670 acres and can be managed as two separate pastures. The north pasture is approximately 1,000 acres whereas the southern pasture is about 670 acres. The southern pasture is considered “improved pasture”. This improvement occurred prior to acquisition by the Department and included removal of sagebrush to benefit a higher grass crop. The Department has no plans of performing maintenance consistent with improved pasture and will likely allow the southern pasture to revert to native sagebrush habitat naturally. The Permittee is not allowed to remove native vegetation to promote grass yields. This area borders private Premises as well as federal lands including properties under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service (USFS).

Stocking rates for the Premises will not exceed 45 Animal Units (AU) for a Four-and one-half month period (June 1 – October 15) for a total of 202.5 AUs annually. The Department will require the Permittee to collaborate with CDFW and its partners, including but not limited to, UC Berkely, UC Davis, and Wildlife Services, on wolf -livestock interaction research.

Water and Infrastructure One seasonal creek runs through the Premises, as the occasional undeveloped spring.

Please note that the Department cannot guarantee the presence of water; if water is unavailable, the Permittee will be responsible for bringing in water. Troughs and other infrastructure will be placed in coordination with the site manager. All current water infrastructure belongs to the previous Permittee and will be removed from the Premises prior to issuance of a new grazing permit.

Habitats, Soil and Topography The Premises lies between 4,900ft and 5,200ft in elevation, consisting of converted pastureland, sagebrush steppe, and some timber in higher elevations. The soils on the Premises are predominantly made up of Dotta cobbly sandy loam and coolbrith silt loam, with other less common map units scattered throughout. In general, the soils found on the Premises are rated as a having a “slight” or “moderate” susceptibility to erosion, so off-road or off-trail OHV use is restricted to on roads and trails on the Premises. Any damage caused to roads or trails is to be restored to previous condition by Permittee. Throughout the Premises, soils are generally listed as having a low resistance to compaction. If routine monitoring by CDFW determines that severe compaction is taking place, the CDFW may require the Permittee to exclude areas experiencing severe compaction from access by cattle.

Special Status Plants and Wildlife According to the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), Sierra Valley Ivesia (Ivesia aperta var. aperta) and Sticky Pyrrocoma (Pyrrocoma lucida) have both been found on the Premises. According to CNDDB, these plants are not threatened or endangered, but they are rare and found only in Sierra and Plumas Counties. Although CDFW is not currently monitoring these species, if negative impacts to the species are determined to be caused by grazing, CDFW may require the Permittee to exclude areas with the sensitive species from grazing on an as needed basis.

Gray Wolf (Canis lupis) is a recovering endangered species protected under the California Endangered Species Acts (CESA) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Endangered Species Act. This native species was likely extirpated from California in the 1920s. Wolves have returned to California on their own by dispersal of individuals from source populations in other states. The public reporting of potential wolf sightings are investigated in California, and valued as a monitoring tool. The CDFW is actively working to manage and mitigate wolf-livestock interactions to minimize loss and may require the Permittee to participate in wolf-livestock interaction mitigation and management studies conducted at the Premises. These studies may include, but are not limited to, use of turbo-fladry as a predator livestock interaction mitigation tool, the use of tracking devices on livestock, and ear tag and/or collar tracking technology to inform the CDFW of the effectiveness of these management practices.

Primary Management/Habitat Objectives Maintenance and enhancement of critical deer summer range for the Interstate Doyle deer herd is the primary management goal for the Premises. Additional management and habitat objectives include:

1. Protection of fawning habitats (Mapes Canyon Fawning Area) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) summer range.

2. Protection of migratory corridors for the Interstate Doyle deer herd

3. Develop water sources for wildlife as needed.

4. Protect deer forage such as bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) and prevent type conversion by…