Procurement Information~17.docx

This is a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by McKenzie Fire & Rescue in partnership with Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) for fuels reduction services in the McKenzie Valley area of Lane County, Oregon. The project encompasses vegetation removal and large-scale fuels treatment on approximately 125 acres of private properties, including chipping and shredding of debris piles, tree removal, vegetation and underbrush clearing within 100 feet of homes and outbuildings, erosion control, and woody debris transport. The RFP was posted on January 13, 2025, with proposals due by February 14, 2025. Project work is scheduled to commence on March 15, 2025, and continue through July 31, 2026. Contractors must demonstrate a minimum of three years' experience in hazard tree removal and vegetation management and possess heavy equipment including industrial chippers, excavators, skidders, dump trucks, and water tanks.

Proposals will be evaluated using a four-tier scoring system: scope requirements (40 points), service capabilities (25 points), cost (25 points), and references (10 points). The estimated cost per residence is up to $2,000, though actual expenses will vary based on specific work requirements. The project is funded through a $1 million grant from Senator Merkley's Oregon Wildfire Resiliency funding package, with $325,000 specifically allocated to McKenzie Fire & Rescue. The initiative is designed to benefit approximately 150 landowners directly through defensible space treatments and approximately 75 additional properties indirectly through strategic fuel breaks, with a focus on areas impacted by the Holiday Farm Fire. Contractors are expected to bundle projects within similar locations to reduce mobilization costs and increase operational efficiency. EWEB will provide overall project management, McKenzie Fire & Rescue will handle community outreach and contractor coordination, and ODF will provide fuels reduction prescriptions and landowner education.