P2025101_LEWLA_RFP_(FINAL)_04_11_2025.pdf

State of California -The Natural Resources Agency GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CHARLTON H. BONHAM, Director Northern Region 601 Locust Street Redding, CA 96001www.wildlife.ca.gov

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

April 11, 2025

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Lake Earl Wildlife Area Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal

Permit Number 2025101

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 297 acres of real property known as the South, Triangle, Browns, Jordan Creek, Bush Creek and Lower Lake Pastures, collectively referred to as the Premises, on the Lake Earl Wildlife Area (LEWA), in the County of Del Norte.

A successful proposal will convey flexibility, innovative ideas, and an understanding of the unique aspects of operating on a publicly owned property with the overall goals of optimizing foraging habitat for Aleutian Canada Goose and Roosevelt Elk, manage invasive species, and reduce fuel load for fire resiliency. 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 four year and 10 month permit agreement.

Proposals must be received no later than May 23, 2025, by 5:00pm. A minimum of one original and two copies 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: Lesley Wyrick Name: Shawn Fresz Title: Staff Services Analyst Title: Senior Environmental

Scientist Supervisor Address: 601 Locust Street

Redding, CA 96001 Address: 619 2nd Street

Eureka, CA 95501 Phone: (530) 806-1395 Phone: (707) 601-6281 Email: Lesley.Wyrick@wildlife.ca.gov Email: Shawn.Fresz@wildlife.ca.gov

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Request for Proposal – P2025101

Site Inspection Location 1180 Lakeview Drive Crescent City, CA 95531 It is mandatory that you inspect the site before submitting a proposal. Site inspection(s) will be held on April 29, 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 ...................................................................... vi

G. Required Attachments ........................................................................................ x

Attachment 1 – Required Attachment Check List .............................................. x Attachment 2 – Transmittal Letter ..................................................................... xi Attachment 3 – Statement of Qualifications ......................................................xii Attachment 4 – Proposal for Goal 1 ................................................................. xiii Attachment 5 – Proposal for Goal 2 ................................................................. xiii Attachment 6 – Proposal for Goal 3 ................................................................ xiii Attachment 7 – Proposal for Goal 4 ................................................................ xiii Attachment 8 – Proposal for Goal 5 ................................................................. xiii Attachment 9 – Disclosure Statements ............................................................xiv

Attachment 10 – Fee Proposal Form ............................................................... xv Attachment 11 – Bidder References and Reference Letters ............................xvi Attachment 12 – Site Inspection Certification ................................................. xviii Attachment 13 – Proposal Certification Sheet ..................................................xix Attachment 14 – Authorization Document ........................................................xxi

A. Objectives for Permit

The CDFW seeks a Permittee who can conduct a vegetation disposal operation on the Premises that will be consistent with the overall goals of managing habitat for Aleutian Canada Goose and Roosevelt Elk, controlling invasive plant species, and fuel load for fire resiliency. The long-term objective of the CDFW for the LEWA is to use vegetation disposal activities to encourage and support foraging habitat, managing invasive species, and fuel load for fire resiliency.

The broad management goal of the Premises is to provide habitat for waterfowl and Roosevelt elk. Grazing management will be used with the specific goals of:

Optimizing foraging habitat for Aleutian Canada Goose and Roosevelt elk Managing invasive species including tansy, scotch broom, other invasive annual grasses and emergent wetland vegetation to maintain a diversity of forage options and remove decadent thatch for wildlife species; and

Reducing the fuel load for fire resiliency.

B. Property Description and Vegetation Disposal Overview

The LEWA is located approximately five miles north of Crescent City on Lake Earl Drive in Del Norte County and is part of the CDFW Northern Region. It is composed of approximately 6,100 acres.

The Premises consist of six separate pastures totaling approximately 297 acres within the LEWA (Exhibit A: Map) as detailed below, along with their corresponding, pasture names, number of acres for each pasture, and the presence or absence of wells on the pasture:

PASTURE NAME MAP # FIELD ACRES WELL*

South 4 V,W 39 Yes Triangle 3 U 30 No Browns 3 J,T 70 Yes Jordan Creek 2 I 3 Yes Bush Creek 2 H 36 No Lower Lake 1 A,G 119 Yes**

* Each well is on its own meter. Utility services and costs associated with the use of water wells on the land is the responsibility of the Permittee.

**Two with own meters, and a third at old office but does not have electric to it.

The Premises range from 8–100 feet above sea level and is five miles north of Crescent City bordering the Pacific Ocean with various accesses to each pasture.

The soil is comprised of sand and loam. The vegetation does have invasive plants throughout the pastures. Grazing of all pastures, except for the South Pasture (V and W), which is haying only, will be from June 1 (July 1 in year one only) to January

31 each year of the Permit Term. Desired stubble height will depend on the time of year; June 1 (July 1 in year one only) – September 31 is 6-8 inches, October 1 – November 30 is 3-6 inches, and December 1 to January 31 is 1½-3 inches. The Permittee will be required to meet with CDFW Site Managers at least once a year, or as requested. It will be the Permittee’s responsibility to pay the utility services and costs associated with the use of water wells.

Pasture Name Time Period Stubble Height South Pasture (V and W)

June 1 (July 1 in year one only) to January 31

Haying only

All other pastures June 1 (July 1 in year one only) to September 31

6-8 inches stubble height

All other pastures October 1 – November 30 3-6 inches stubble height All other pastures December 1 to January 31 1½ - 3 inches stubble height

Boundaries on the Premises are identified with barb wire and smooth wire fencing totaling approximately 297 acres. Fencing conditions range from good to poor.

Ingress/Egress: The Premises and the LEWA are located five miles north of Crescent City, bordering the Pacific Ocean (See maps, Section 14, Exhibit A).

Access for fields are as follows: Field A: Kellogg Rd., Fields B-G: Lower Lake Rd., Fields H-I: Lake Earl Dr., Fields J-T: Standard Veneer Dr., Field U & W: Old Mill Rd.

Seasonal flooding will occur on the Premises, which may affect access, electrical power, and potentially requiring the moving and/or removal of cattle. The CDFW may require cattle be moved or removed from inundated pastures at its discretion.

The annual grazing period is from June 1 (July 1 in year one only) to January 31 each year during the Permit term. The Permittee and the CDFW will communicate regularly regarding all operations, grazing, infrastructure, maintenance, access, conflicts, and schedules as needed.

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 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 focused on habitat restoration).

3. Ability to respond to emergencies on the Premises within two hours during the vegetation disposal period.

D. Proposals

All proposals must conform to the following parameters:

1. Vegetation disposal activities may not begin prior to July 1, 2025, and may not continue past January 31, 2030.

2. Only cattle may be grazed.

3. June 1 (July 1 in year one only) to September 31 stubble height between 6-8 inches, October 1 to November 30 stubble height between 3-6 inches and December 1 to January 31 stubble height between 1 ½ - 3 inches.

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 LEWA.

E. Permit Term and Fee

If awarded, the term of this Permit shall be four years and 10 months, commencing July 1, 2025, or upon approval of the STATE, whichever is later (Commencement Date) and terminating on April 30, 2030, 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 seven months in year one, starting July 1 and ending January 31, and eight months in years two, three, four, and five, starting June 1, and ending January 31.

The annual fee will be calculated as the product of the proposed fee amount per acre per year times 297 acres per year.

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 GRAZING PERIOD COVERED 1 June 15, 2025, or upon Permit Total Annual Fee

July 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026 execution, whichever is later

2 May 15, 2026 Total Annual Fee

June 1, 2026 – January 31, 2027

3 May 15, 2027 Total Annual Fee

June 1, 2027 – January 31, 2028

4 May 15, 2028 Total Annual Fee

June 1, 2028 – January 31, 2029

5 May 15, 2029 Total Annual Fee

June 1, 2029 – January 31, 2030

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 April 11, 2025 – May 22, 2025 Mandatory Site Inspection April 29, 2025, at 11:00am Proposal Submission Deadline (Proposals must be received by this date)

May 23, 2025, at 5:00pm

Proposal Evaluation and Ranking May 27, 2025 Interviews, If Necessary May 27, 2025 Final Selection/Notice of Intent to Award May 30, 2025 Proposed Award Date June 4, 2025 Finalize Exhibit B June 10, 2025 Proposed Commencement Date July 1, 2025

2. Mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference and Site Inspection

a. A mandatory site inspection is scheduled at 11:00am on April 29, 2025, at

1180 Lakeview Drive, Crescent City, CA 95531 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

Bidder 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 Permit P2025101” 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.

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 two copies 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.

This attachment must clearly demonstrate how the bidder meets or exceeds each of the Minimum Qualifications detailed in Section C. Proposals may be rejected if the Statement of Qualifications does not clearly demonstrate how the bidder meets the minimum qualifications. The Statement of Qualifications must have the following:

1. Descriptive statement indicating the bidder’s credentials, years of experience performing activities required in this RFP, organizational history, and years in business. Include enough detail to demonstrate at least five years of experience conducting grazing operations on coastal wetlands, and at least three years of experience on public land or conservation easement protected land. Start dates and end dates of activities and past permits should be included to ensure the Minimum Qualifications are met.

2. List all personnel who will be working under the Permit, including their name, title, and a brief description of their role.

3. Brief description of resources in place to respond to emergencies within 24 hours.

4. Confirmation that two references and two reference letters have been included and provided.

5. Location of office(s).

Attachments 4 through 8 – Proposals for Each Goal (1–5) Provide one written proposal of how you or your firm would operate to accomplish each of the five 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. Describe your plan to optimize foraging habitat for Aleutian Canada Goose and Roosevelt Elk that meets the sward height and parameters described in the RFP. Include duration, livestock (i.e. yearlings, cow and calf, etc.) and the number of AUMs you propose to use. If you propose haying in combination with grazing, describe how you would determine which section(s) to hay and why?

2. Describe your plan to minimize negative impacts to the Premises pastures in the early winter months due to wet conditions while maintaining the required sward height.

3. Describe how your plan would prevent overgrazing of individual Premises pastures.

4. Describe what precautions you would take to avoid negative impacts to wetlands (i.e. streams, vernal pools, and seeps and springs).

5. What resources do you have in place to be able to provide a rapid response to any request by CDFW to reduce, increase or move livestock on the Premises due to condition changes within the time parameters in section 35(b) of the Permit? Describe in detail your ability and plan to respond to these situations.

Attachment 9 – 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 Permits for 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 10 – Fee Proposal Form Form provided in this RFP. Provide a proposed fee per acre per year. 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 11 – 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 12 – 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 13 – Proposal Certification Form Form provided in this RFP. (Instructions on page 2 of this form).

Attachment 14 – Authorization Document Attach the appropriate document to the provided check-form as described. See page xxi 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:

Lake Earl Wildlife Area Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal Permit Number P2025101 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 two copies 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:

Lake Earl Wildlife Area Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal Permit P2025101 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Attn: Lesley Wyrick 601 Locust Street Redding, CA 96001

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, or other CDFW employees. 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. Describe the terms of the permit including approximate number of acres, duration of the permit and the geographic area.

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

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

4. Was the firm/individual knowledgeable in best farming practices to avoid negative impacts to the property? (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

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), (Attachment 3) Pass/Fail Reference Letters (Attachment 4) Pass/Fail Disclosure Statement Pass/Fail Proposal for Goal 1 (Attachment 5) 20 points Proposal for Goal 2 (Attachment 6) 20 points Proposal for Goal 3 (Attachment 7) 20 points Proposal for Goal 4 (Attachment 8) 20 points Proposal for Goal 5 (Attachment 9) 20 points Proposed Fee (Attachment 10) 5 points

Total Possible Points: ____ 105 Points

The method of evaluation and scoring is as follows:

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

Pass Bidder submitted an SOQ that demonstrates they meet each of the Minimum Qualifications listed in Section C.

Fail Bidder did provide an SOQ and/or did not demonstrate how they meet the Minimum Qualifications listed in Section C.

Reference Letters

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

Fail Reference provided a “No” response to one or more of the questions, or did not answer the questions as instructed, which will be grounds to deem the 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. This may be grounds for disqualification.

Goal 1

Describe your plan to optimize foraging habitat for Aleutian Canada Goose and Roosevelt Elk that meets the sward height and parameters described in the RFP. Include duration, livestock (i.e. yearlings, cow and calf, etc.) and the number of AUMs you propose to use. If you propose haying in combination with grazing, describe how you would determine which section(s) to hay and why. (20 points possible)

0 Proposal did not describe a plan that was responsive to this goal.

Plan does not fit within the parameters, or requires multiple changes, or does not provide enough detail for scoring.

Plan is sufficient to meet parameters but lacked specific details about providing desirable forage for Aleutian Canada Goose, other waterfowl and Roosevelt Elk.

Plan is sufficient to meet parameters and contained specific details about providing desirable forage for Aleutian Canada Goose, other waterfowl and Roosevelt Elk.

Plan shows a command of the subject and contained specific details about providing desirable forage for Aleutian Canada Goose, other waterfowl and Roosevelt Elk.

Goal 2 Describe your plan to minimize negative impacts to the Premises pastures in the early winter months due to wet conditions while maintaining the required sward height. (20 points possible)

0 Proposal did not describe a plan that was responsive to this goal.

5 Proposal did not demonstrate knowledge of avoiding impacts to pastures.

10 Proposal did not demonstrate knowledge of avoiding impacts to pastures.

Proposal demonstrated command of subject matter relevant to avoiding impacts to riparian areas.

Goal 3 Describe how your plan would prevent overgrazing of individual Premises pastures. (20 points possible)

0 Proposal did not describe a plan that was responsive to this goal.

Proposal contained a few key words or ideas but did not demonstrate a knowledgeable plan for overgrazing individual pastures.

Proposal contained a plan to avoid overgrazing individual pastures but had one or more errors; or plan may be sufficient but lacked detail

Proposal demonstrated command of subject matter and contains a high level of detail relevant to avoiding overgrazing of individual pastures.

Goal 4 Describe what precautions you would take to avoid negative impacts to wetlands (i.e. streams, vernal pools, and seeps and springs). (20 points possible

0 Proposal did not describe a plan that was responsive to this goal.

Proposal did not demonstrate knowledge of avoiding negative impacts to wetlands.

Proposal demonstrated basic knowledge of avoiding impacts to wetlands but did not describe the precautions; or Proposal lacked detail; or proposal had fundamental errors.

Proposal demonstrated basic knowledge of avoiding negative impacts to wetlands and described precautions that would be taken.

Proposal demonstrated command of subject matter relevant to precautions that would be taken to avoid negative impacts to wetlands and contains a high level of detail

Goal 5

What resources do you have in place to be able to provide a rapid response to any request by CDFW to reduce, increase or move livestock on the Premises due to condition changes within the time parameters in section 35(b) of the Permit? Describe in detail your ability and plan to respond to these situations. (20 points possible)

Proposal did not describe a plan that was responsive to this goal. No resources

Proposal described resources that are not adequate for prompt response; or lacked sufficient detail to score

10 Proposal described adequate resources but lacks detail or a plan

Proposal described adequate resources and a detailed plan of action to respond

Cost (5 points possible):

The highest price offered receives the maximum of 5 points. All other proposals will receive a score based on the following formula:

Cost proposal divided by the highest cost proposal x 10 points = Score

Example:

Highest bid is $35.00/AUM………………………………..….………..….5 points Next highest bid is $32.50/AUM…($32.50 divided by $35.00) times 10 = 4.64 points Next bid is $25.00/AUM…….($25.00 divided by $35.00) times 10 = 3.57 points

= TOTAL POINTS SCORED TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 105

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 property 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.

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 must notify the State in writing if it: (1) intends to provide GenAI as a deliverable to the State; or (2), intends to utilize GenAI, including GenAI from third parties, to complete all or a portion of any deliverable that materially impacts: (i) functionality of a State system, (ii) risk to the State, or (iii) Contract performance. For avoidance of doubt, the term “materially impacts” shall have the meaning set forth in State Administrative Manual (SAM) § 4986.2 Definitions for GenAI.

Failure to report GenAI to the State may result in disqualification. The State reserves the right to seek any and all relief to which it may be entitled to as a result of such non-disclosure.

Upon notification by a Bidder / Offeror of GenAI as required, 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.

Government Code 11549.64 defines “Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)” as an artificial intelligence system that can generate derived synthetic content, including text, images, video, and audio that emulates the structure and characteristics of the system’s training data.

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16. Exhibit A: Map ii

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

Exhibit A-1: Legal Description of Site (Cont’d) iv v vi

18. Exhibit B: Site Operation Plan

Property Description and Vegetation Removal Overview

The Lake Earl Wildlife Area (LEWA) is located approximately five miles north of Crescent City, California, bordering the Pacific Ocean.

The Premises:

The Premises is 297 acres within the LEWA and consists of six separate pastures.

The names of the pastures, RFP map locations (Exhibit A – Maps), number of acres, and presence or absence of wells are described in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Description of Pastures included in the Premises.

Pasture Name Map # Field Acres Well* South (Haying Only) 4 V-W 39 Yes

Triangle 3 U 30 No Browns 3 J-T 70 Yes

Jordan Creek 2 I 3 Yes Bush Creek 2 H 36 No Lower Lake 1 A-G 119 Yes **

* Each well is on its own meter. Utility services and costs associated with the use of water wells on the land are the responsibility of the Permittee.

** There are two operational wells with meters on Lower Lake. The third well by the old office building does not have electricity.

Topography:

Most of the LEWA is composed of former pasturelands and wetlands surrounding Lake Earl and Lake Tolowa. The Premises ranges between 8 and 100 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

Soils:

The western portion of the Premises is comprised of wet sand underlain by Holocene marine and eolian sand. The eastern portion of the Premises is comprised of Carlotta loam, Timmons loam, Tolowa fine loam underlain by Late Pleistocene marine and eolian sand (Battery formation).

Vegetation:

Vegetation of the Premises consists of sitka spruce, grasses and forbs such as bentgrass, clovers, fescue, orchardgrass, and ryegrass. Invasive plants present on the Premises include scotch broom, tansy ragwort, meadow knapweed, cotoneaster, English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, bull thistle, blessed milk thistle, poison hemlock, radish, buttercup, dandelion and dock.

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Wildlife:

Over 300 species have been observed on LEWA, including the Premises. These include avian species such as marsh wren, song sparrow, savannah sparrow, white-crowned sparrow and golden-crowned sparrow, red-winged and Brewer’s blackbirds, house finch, American goldfinch, yellow warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, tree, cliff and barn swallows, white-tailed kite, northern harrier, American kestrel, peregrine falcon, red-tailed hawk, barn owl, turkey vulture, Canada geese and Aleutian cackling geese. Mammal species known to occur on the Premises include black-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk, coyote, beaver, striped skunks, raccoons, and opossums. There are a variety of other wildlife species that utilize the restored tidal marsh areas, including numerous species of waterfowl, shorebirds and wading birds.

Public Use:

The Premises are closed to public use, however the wildlife area surrounding the Premises is open all year to all public use. The Permittee will need to verify that all cattle utilized are compatible with visitors walking through the Premises. Bulls and/or cows that approach visitors to the Premises in a threatening manner will be removed immediately from the Premises. The Permit is a non-exclusive right to graze, and interactions with the public are to be expected, and will need to be courteous. Additionally, activities (loading/unloading cattle) should be planned in a manner to be least disruptive to public usage. No special right to access the Premises for the purposes of hunting, fishing, camping, or any other purpose other than as specified in the Permit is granted nor implied. The Permittee may not take (as defined in FGC 86) wildlife (including rodent and predator control) unless prior written authorization is obtained from the CDFW. The Permittee may not grant special access to any persons not associated with the implementation or management of vegetation control activities under the Permit.

Ingress/Egress:

The Premises and the LEWA are located five miles north of Crescent City, bordering the Pacific Ocean (See maps, Section 14, Exhibit A). Access for fields are as follows: Field A: Kellogg Rd., Fields B-G: Lower Lake Rd., Fields H-I: Lake Earl Dr., Fields J-T: Standard Veneer Dr., Field U & W: Old Mill Rd.

Incompatible Activities:

When operating the Permit, the Permittee may witness incompatible activities to the Premises, such as target shooting, driving Off Road Vehicle (OHV), etc. The Permittee will inform the CDFW Site Manager within 24 hours of noticing such activity.

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Roads / OHV Use:

The Permittee may use OHV on existing trails and roads only, and with care to avoid damaging the roads. If damages are caused, the Permittee will repair the road to previous drivable conditions.

Cattle Health / Trespass:

The CDFW requires that the Permittee determines that their livestock is healthy prior to being introduced to the Premises, and remains healthy while on the Premises. The CDFW expects that cattle trespass onto adjoining properties will be avoided and will be addressed swiftly (two hours or less) should it occur. Cattle trespassing onto the Premises should also be addressed swiftly. Cattle not belonging to the Permittee will need to be identified (potentially with the help of the brand inspector) and removed as quickly as possible.

Infrastructure/Corrals / Processing Facilities:

There is no permanent cattle processing corral available on the Premises. All pastures/fields are fenced and will be the responsibility of the Permittee to verify the condition of those fences to contain their livestock (See Table 1 for a summary of operational wells on the Premises).

Habitat Objectives and/or Species Goals:

The broad management goal of the Premises is to provide habitat for waterfowl and Roosevelt elk.