RFP - Dickinson_

Michigan.gov/MiProcurement proposal instructions Department of Natural Resources Openings Maintenance and GEMS Habitat Gravel Haul Dickinson and Iron Counties Request for Proposal No. 230000002420

Solicitation Manager Name: Lisa Crozier-Green Email: CrozierGreenL@michigan.gov

The sole point of contact for the State concerning this RFP is the Solicitation Manager.

The sole method of contact is email.

Contacting any other State personnel, agent, consultant, or representative about this RFP or any information contained herein may result in bidder disqualification.

The RFP process begins when the RFP is posted on SIGMA VSS and continues through Contract execution.

RFP Timeline

*A bidder’s proposal received at 3:00:01 p.m. Eastern is late and subject to disqualification.

This RFP is subject to change. Check www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS for current information.

1. PROPOSAL PREPARATION. The State recommends reading all RFP materials prior to preparing a proposal, particularly these Proposal Instructions and the Vendor Questions Worksheet. Bidders must follow these Proposal Instructions and provide a complete response to the items indicated in the table below. References and links to websites or external sources may not be used in lieu of providing the information requested in the RFP within the proposal. Include the bidder’s company name in the header of all documents submitted with your proposal. Note that all documents and information submitted as part of a proposal will become public record immediately upon receipt by the State. Proposals received by the State may be posted on the State’s publicly available website after bidders are notified of the award recommendation.

RFP Structure and Documentation

2. CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE STATE. The sole point of contact for the State concerning this RFP is the Solicitation Manager. Contact information for the Solicitation Manager has been included on the Cover Page. Contacting anyone other than the Solicitation Manager, i.e., any other State personnel, agent, consultant, or representative about this RFP may result in bidder disqualification.

Bidders may contact Ryan McGillviray at (906) 221-2027 with questions concerning the conditions or locations of any opening. Questions must be limited ONLY to conditions and locations of openings.

3. MODIFICATIONS. The State may modify this RFP at any time. Modifications will be posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS. This is the only method by which the RFP may be modified.

4. QUESTIONS. Bidder questions about this RFP must be EMAILED to the Solicitation Manager no later than the time and date specified on the Cover Page. In the interest of transparency, only emailed questions are accepted. All Bidder questions and official DNR answers to questions will be posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS. Please use the following format when submitting questions.

5. DELIVERY OF PROPOSAL.

Electronic – The bidder must submit its proposal, all Mandatory Documents as attachments, and any modifications or withdrawals electronically through SIGMA VSS. The price proposal (Schedule B) should be saved separately and attached as a separate document with the proposal in SIGMA VSS.

The bidder must submit all documents in Microsoft Word. Bidders may also attach copies of documents in PDF format.

Attachment file size is limited to 6 MB per document. Bidder’s failure to submit a proposal as required, including all Mandatory Documents and Schedule B, may result in proposal disqualification.

The proposal and all attachments must be submitted using SIGMA VSS prior to the proposal deadline. Bidders must be registered in SIGMA VSS to submit a proposal. Do not wait until the last minute to register as a vendor in SIGMA VSS or to submit a proposal, as the SIGMA VSS system requires the creation of an account and entry of certain information, in addition to uploading and submitting the materials. The SIGMA VSS system will not allow a proposal to be submitted after the proposal deadline identified in the solicitation, even if a portion of the proposal has been uploaded.

Questions on how to submit information or how to navigate in the SIGMA VSS system can be answered by calling (517) 284-0540 or (888) 734-9749.

The Solicitation Manager is available for assistance with submitting a proposal in SIGMA VSS but will not assist with submitting a proposal or attachments on the day of the proposal deadline. Responsibility for a complete submission lies with the bidder.

Note that all documents and information submitted in any manner as part of a proposal will become public record immediately upon receipt by the State. Proposals received may be posted by the State on the State’s publicly available website after bidders are notified of the award recommendation.

6. EVALUATION PROCESS. A responsive proposal is one that is submitted in accordance with the proposal instructions and meets all requirements identified in the solicitation and / or Schedule A – Statement of Work. A responsible vendor successfully demonstrates, by the responses provided in the Vendor Questions Worksheet, that the vendor can successfully provide the goods and / or perform the services identified by the solicitation. Proposals may be considered non-responsive and / or disqualified if not submitted in accordance with the solicitation instructions, or which do not include all the information requested. The State may request vendor clarification on vague or ambiguous responses but cannot request clarification if no response is included. Proposals considered non-responsive and / or disqualified may not be considered for award recommendation.

Proposals must include complete responses to

· Vendor Questions Worksheet

· Schedule A – Statement of Work

· Schedule B – Vendor Price Quote

The State will evaluate each proposal based on the following factors:

The Vendor Questions Worksheet will be evaluated to determine whether the Bidder provided responses to all sections and has demonstrated, by the responses provided, that they possess the relevant experience required to successfully provide the Contract Activities.

Schedule A – Statement of Work will be evaluated to determine whether the Bidder has provided responses to all sections and has demonstrated, by the responses provided, the ability to meet the required specifications and to comply with State requirements.

Proposals receiving a PASS on both the Vendor Questions Worksheet and Schedule A – Statement of Work will have pricing evaluated and be considered for award.

PRICE EVALUATION

Schedule B – Vendor Price Quote will be evaluated to determine whether the price proposed for the Contract Activities is within the State’s anticipated fair market value. Schedule B – Vendor Price Quote must be completed and a price for each service included in the proposal must be submitted as an attachment to the proposal entered in SIGMA VSS. The price provided in each line item (lot) in SIGMA VSS should be the Total Price Proposed from Schedule B.

The State is not obligated to accept the lowest priced proposal.

The State may utilize all bidder information without regard to a proposal’s technical score and may review the vendor’s website or contact references to determine whether the vendor can successfully provide the services required, or to determine fair market value for the services sought. If applicable, the State’s evaluation will include consideration of a bidder’s qualified disabled veterans/service-disabled veteran owned business(QDV/SDVOB) status under MCL 18.1261(8). Additional information on the SDVOB preference is available at: Michigan.gov/SDVOB.

The State strongly encourages strict adherence to the Contract Terms. The State reserves the right to deem a bid non-responsive for failure to accept the Contract Terms. Nevertheless, the bidder may submit proposed changes to the Contract Terms in track changes (i.e., visible edits) with an explanation of the bidder’s need for each proposed change. Failure to include track changes with an explanation of the bidder’s need for the proposed change constitutes the bidder’s acceptance of the Contract Terms. General statements, such as that the bidder reserves the right to negotiate the terms and conditions, may be considered non-responsive. Failure to respond timely to requests for proposed changes to Contract Terms during ongoing negotiations may be cause for disqualification.

The State may but is not required to conduct an on-site visit to tour and inspect the bidder’s facilities; require an oral presentation of the bidder's proposal; conduct interviews, research, reference checks, and background checks; and request additional price concessions at any point during the evaluation process.

7. NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY. The State reserves the right to issue a Notice of Deficiency to bidders if the State determines after the proposal deadline that a portion of the RFP was deficient, unclear, or ambiguous. Failure to respond to a Notice of Deficiency timely may be cause for disqualification.

8. CLARIFICATION REQUEST. The State reserves the right to issue a Clarification Request to a bidder to clarify its proposal if the State determines the proposal is not clear. Failure to respond to a Clarification Request timely may be cause for disqualification.

9. RESERVATIONS. The State reserves the right to:

a. Disqualify a bidder for failure to follow these instructions.

b. Discontinue the RFP process at any time for any or no reason. The issuance of an RFP, your preparation and submission of a proposal, and the State’s subsequent receipt and evaluation of your proposal does not commit the State to award a contract to you or anyone, even if all the requirements in the RFP are met.

c. Consider late proposals if: (i) no other proposals are received; (ii) no complete proposals are received; (iii) the State received complete proposals, but the proposals did not meet mandatory minimum requirements or technical criteria; or (iv) the award process fails to result in an award.

d. Consider an otherwise disqualified proposal if no other proposals are received.

e. Disqualify a proposal based on: (i) information provided by the bidder in response to this RFP; (2) the bidder’s failure to complete registration on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS ; or (3) if it is determined that a bidder purposely or willfully submitted false or misleading information in response to the RFP.

f. Consider prior performance with the State in making its award decision.

g. Consider overall economic impact to the State when evaluating proposal pricing and in the final award recommendation. This includes but is not limited to: considering principal place of performance, number of Michigan citizens employed or potentially employed, dollars paid to Michigan residents, Michigan capital investments, job creation, tax revenue implications, and economically disadvantaged businesses.

h. Consider total-cost-of-ownership factors (e.g., transition and training costs) when evaluating proposal pricing and in the final award recommendation.

i. Refuse to award a contract to any bidder that has failed to pay State taxes or has outstanding debt with the State.

j. Enter into negotiations with one or more bidders on price, terms, technical requirements, or other deliverables.

k. Award multiple, optional-use contracts, or award by Contract Activity.

l. Evaluate the proposal outside the scope identified in the Evaluation Process section of this document if the State receives only one proposal.

10. AWARD RECOMMENDATION. The contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder who offers the best value to the State, as determined by the State. Best value will be determined by the bidder receiving a PASS on both proposal documents, offering the best combination of factors stated in the Evaluation Process section of this document, and price as demonstrated by the proposal. The State will post a Notice of Intent to award (NIA1) on SIGMA VSS which will include, as an attachment, the Award Recommendation and Evaluation Synopsis.

11. DEBRIEF MEETING AND BID PROTEST. The Award Recommendation and Evaluation Synopsis will provide instructions on how participating bidders may request a debrief meeting. Vendors who did not submit a proposal and / or subcontractors of bidders are ineligible for a debrief meeting.

Participating bidders who wish to initiate a protest of the award must submit a written protest to GyorkosL@michigan.gov no later than 3:00 p.m. EST five (5) calendar days after posting the Notice of Intent to Award, or by 3:00 p.m. EST the next business day if that date falls on a state holiday or weekend. The State reserves the right to adjust this timing and will publish any change on the SIGMA VSS system.

Additional information regarding the protest process and information required is available at www.michigan.gov/micontractconnect under the “Bidder Protests” link.

12. STATE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD. Contracts equal to or greater than $250,000 require approval by the State Administrative Board. The State Administrative Board’s decision is final; however, State Administrative Board approval does not constitute a contract. The award process is not complete until the awarded contractor receives a contract fully executed by all parties.

13. GENERAL CONDITIONS. The State will not be liable for any costs, expenses, or damages incurred by a bidder participating in this solicitation. The bidder agrees that its proposal will be considered an offer to do business with the State in accordance with its proposal, including the Contract Terms, and that its proposal will be irrevocable and binding for a period of 60 calendar days from date of submission. If a contract is awarded to the bidder, the State may, at its option, incorporate any part of the bidder’s proposal into a contract. This RFP is not an offer of contract.

This RFP may not provide a complete statement of the State’s environment or contain all matters upon which agreement must be reached. The bidder understands that their proposal will become public record immediately upon receipt by the State. Other than verified trade secrets, proposals submitted via SIGMAVSS are the State’s property.

14. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FORM AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. As a public record, all portions of the bidder’s proposal and resulting contract are subject to disclosure as required under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231, et seq. However, the State may exempt some information from disclosure as permitted by law. Under MCL 18.1261(13)(b), records containing “a trade secret as defined under section 2 of the uniform trade secrets act, 1998 PA 448, MCL 445.1902,” are exempt from disclosure under FOIA. In addition, “financial or proprietary information” submitted with a bidder’s proposal is exempt from disclosure under FOIA. A bidder’s failure to comply with this Section is grounds for rejecting a bidder’s proposal as non-responsive. As a part of its proposal, each bidder must follow the procedure below.

SUBMIT A COMPLETED “CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FORM” (CT FORM) WITH YOUR BID. THIS IS A MANDATORY DOCUMENT. Completion and submission of the CT Form is required regardless of whether the bidder seeks confidential treatment of information. Failure to submit a completed CT Form may be cause for disqualification from the solicitation process. If a bidder fails to properly complete and submit the CT Form or otherwise fails to follow CT Form instructions, the proposal may be publicly disclosed in its entirety without redaction after an award recommendation.

Complete and sign Section 1 of the CT Form if the bidder does NOT request confidential treatment of information contained in its proposal; or

i. Complete and sign Section 2 of the CT Form if the bidder requests confidential treatment of certain information. Bidder must also submit a “Public Copy” of the proposal with the trade secret, financial, and proprietary information redacted and clearly labeled as the “Public Copy.”

ii. Failure to complete and sign a CT Form may result in disqualification of the bidder. If a bidder fails to properly complete and submit the CT Form or otherwise fails to follow the CT Form instructions, the proposal, in its entirety, will be treated as a “Public Copy” and may be publicly disclosed by the State without redaction after bidders have been notified of an award recommendation.

b. FOIA REQUESTS. If a FOIA request is made for a bidder’s proposal, the Public Copy may be distributed to the public along with the bidder’s CT Form. The CT Form is a public document and serves as an explanation for the redactions to the Public Copy. Do not put any trade secret, financial, or proprietary information in the CT Form. Do not redact the CT Form itself.

c. NO ADVICE. The State will not advise a bidder as to the nature or content of documents entitled to protection from disclosure under FOIA or other laws, as to the interpretation of such laws, or as to the definition of trade secret or financial or proprietary information. Nothing contained in this provision will modify or amend requirements and obligations imposed on the State by FOIA or other applicable law.

d. FAILURE TO REQUEST CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT. Failure to request material be treated as confidential as specified herein relieves the State, its agencies, and personnel from any responsibility for maintaining material in confidence.

e. Bids containing a request to maintain an entire proposal as confidential may be rejected as non-responsive. Bidders may not request confidential treatment with respect to resumes, pricing, and marketing materials. The State reserves the right to determine whether material designated as exempt by a bidder falls under MCL 18.1261 or other applicable FOIA exemptions. If a FOIA request is made for materials that the bidder has identified as trade secret, financial, or proprietary information, the State has the final authority to determine whether the materials are exempt from disclosure under FOIA.

f. Bidder forever releases the State, its departments, subdivisions, officers, and employees from all claims, rights, actions, demands, damages, liabilities, expenses and fees, which arise out of or relate to the disclosure of all or a portion of bidder’s proposal submitted under this RFP. Bidder must defend, indemnify and hold the State, its departments, subdivisions, officers, and employees harmless, without limitation, from and against all actions, claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, attorney fees, and expenses (including those required to establish the right to indemnification), arising out of or relating to any FOIA request, including potential litigation and appeals, related to the portion of bidder’s proposal submitted under this RFP that bidder has identified as a trade secret, or financial or proprietary information. The State will notify bidder in writing if indemnification is sought. The State is entitled to: (i) regular updates on proceeding status; (ii) participate in the defense of the proceeding; (iii) employ its own counsel; and to (iv) retain control of the defense, or any portion thereof, if the State deems necessary. Bidder will not, without the State’s written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), settle, compromise, or consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any claim, action, or proceeding. If a State employee, official, or law is involved or challenged, the State may control the defense of that portion of the claim. Any litigation activity on behalf of the State, or any of its subdivisions under this Section, must be coordinated with the Department of Attorney General. An attorney designated to represent the State may not do so until approved by the Michigan Attorney General and appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General.

confidential treatment form INSTRUCTIONS. Bidder must complete either Section 1 or Section 2 of this CT Form and sign where indicated. Do not complete both sections. This CT Form must be signed by the individual who signed the bidder’s proposal. A completed CT Form must be submitted with your proposal, regardless of whether your proposal contains confidential information.

Failure to submit a completed CT Form with your bid is grounds for rejecting the proposal as non-responsive. If a bidder fails to properly complete and submit the CT Form or otherwise fails to follow CT Form Instructions, the proposal, in its entirety, will be treated as a “Public Copy” and may be publicly disclosed by the State without redaction after bidders have been notified of an award recommendation. See the Confidential Treatment Form and The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) sections of the Proposal Instructions for additional information.

Section 1. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS NOT REQUESTED This section must be completed, signed, and submitted with the proposal if the bidder does not request confidential treatment of any material contained in the proposal. If this section is completed, do not complete Section 2. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS REQUESTED.

By signing below, the bidder affirms that confidential treatment of material contained in their proposal is not requested.

RFP Number 2300000002420 Dickinson & Iron Counties – Openings Maintenance and GEMS Habitat Gravel Haul

Printed Name, Title, Company

Section 2. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS REQUESTED This section must be completed, signed, and submitted with the proposal if bidder requests confidential treatment of any material contained in the proposal. Submission of a completed CT Form is required to request confidential treatment. If this section is completed, do not complete Section 1. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS NOT REQUESTED.

Provide the information in the table below. Bidder may add rows or additional pages using the same format shown in the table. Bidder must specifically identify the information to be protected as confidential and state the reasons why protection is necessary.

The CT Form will not be considered fully complete unless, for each confidentiality request, the bidder: (1) identifies the Proposal Page #, Section #, and Paragraph #, (2) identifies whether the material is a Trade Secret (TS), Proprietary Financial Information (FI), or Proprietary Information (PI), and (3) explains the specific legal grounds that support treatment of the material as TS, FI, or PI. Bidders must provide a complete justification as to how the material falls within the scope of an applicable FOIA exemption or relevant case law. Bidders must not simply cite to an applicable exemption or case name. Bidders must also provide the contact information for the person at their organization authorized to respond to inquiries by the State concerning the material.

Bidder must also submit a “Public Copy” of the proposal with the trade secret, financial, and proprietary information redacted and clearly labeled as the “Public Copy”.

(1) Proposal Page #, Section #, Paragraph # (2) Material is Trade Secret (TS), Proprietary Financial Information (FI), Proprietary Information (PI) (3) Applicable FOIA Exemption with Written Justification (4) Bidder Contact Information

By signing below, the bidder affirms that confidential treatment of material contained in their proposal is requested and has attached to this form a redacted “Public Copy” of the bidder’s proposal.

RFP Number 2300000002420 Dickinson & Iron Counties – Openings Maintenance and GEMS Habitat Gravel Haul

Printed Name, Title, Company vendor questions worksheet Department of Natural Resources Openings Maintenance & GEMS Habitat Gravel Haul Dickinson and Iron Counties Request for Proposal No. 230000002420

MANDATORY DOCUMENT

COMPLETE AND ATTACH WITH THE PROPOSAL IN SIGMA VSS

Provide a detailed response to every question.

1. Contact Information

Bidder’s sole contact during the RFP process.

Name

Title

Address

Email

Phone Number

Person authorized to review and sign a resulting contract.

Name

Title

Address

Email

Phone Number

2. Company Background Information

SIGMA VSS Vendor ID Number

Legal business name

Business Entity (sold proprietor, LLC, Inc., etc.)

What state was the company formed in?

Address

Phone number

Website address

Number of years in business

Number of employees

Legal business name and address of parent company, if applicable

State the physical address of the place of business that would have primary responsibility for this account if awarded a contract under this RFP.

If the answer is Yes, why did the change occur?

If the answer is Yes, how has the change affected your company?

☐ Debarred ☐ Suspended ☐ Disqualified from bidding ☐ Disqualified from contracting

Date

Entity

Details about the situation

Date of Initial Filing

Case Number

Court Number

Jurisdiction

Cause of Action or Claim

Within the last 5 years has your company (or any of its related business entities) defaulted on a contract or had a contract terminated for cause?

If yes, provide the date, contracting entity, type of contract, and details about the termination or default.

☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Defaulted on Contract ☐ Terminated for Cause

Contracting Agency / Entity

Type of Contract

Date of Default or Termination

Reason for Default or Termination

State your gross annual sales for each of the last 5 years.

If the answer is Yes, describe how the company will “scale up” to manage this increase.

Describe partnerships and strategic relationships you think will bring significant value to the State.

3.

Qualified Disabled Veteran/Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Program

Under MCL 18.1261, a “qualified disabled veteran” means a business entity that is 51% or more owned by 1 or more veterans with a service-connected disability. A “service-connected disability” means a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service as described in 38 USC 101(16).

To demonstrate qualification as a qualified disabled veteran, you must include as an attachment with the EMAILED proposal in SIGMA VSS:

OR

AND

4. Participation in RFP Development or Evaluation

5. State of Michigan Experience and Prior Experience

Does your company have experience working with the State of Michigan?

If YES, please provide information on SOM contracts you have or had in the last 10 years.

If NO –complete the Relevant Experiences section.

☐ Yes ☐ No

Contract Number:

Contract Start Date:

Contract Expiration Date:

Contract Amount:

Agency:

Contract Administrator:

Contract Number:

Contract Start Date:

Contract Expiration Date:

Contract Amount:

Agency:

Contract Administrator:

Contract Number:

Contract Start Date:

Contract Expiration Date:

Contract Amount:

Agency:

Contract Administrator:

Contract Number:

Contract Start Date:

Contract Expiration Date:

Contract Amount:

Agency:

Contract Administrator:

Bidders without State of Michigan experience must complete the Relevant Experience section, below. Describe at least three (3) relevant experiences from the last five (5) years which demonstrate your ability to perform the Contract Activities included in this RFP.

Relevant experience should be of similar size and scope to the work described in this RFP.

DO NOT attach references without completing this section.

Company Name:

Contact Name:

Contact role at time of project:

Contact phone:

Contact email:

City:

State:

Zip:

Project name:

Description of the scope of the project:

How is this experience relevant to this RFP?

Dollar Value or Contract Amount:

Project Start Date:

Project End Date:

Status (complete, ongoing, phase, etc.)

Company Name:

Contact Name:

Contact role at time of project:

Contact phone:

Contact email:

City:

State:

Zip:

Project name:

Description of the scope of the project:

How is this experience relevant to this RFP?

Dollar Value or Contract Amount:

Project Start Date:

Project End Date:

Status (complete, ongoing, phase, etc.)

Company Name:

Contact Name:

Contact role at time of project:

Contact phone:

Contact email:

City:

State:

Zip:

Project name:

Description of the scope of the project:

How is this experience relevant to this RFP?

Dollar Value or Contract Amount:

Project Start Date:

Project End Date:

Status (complete, ongoing, phase, etc.)

6. Standard Contract Terms

☐ Do Not Agree with Contract Terms (attach written exceptions)

7. Michigan Economic Impact

Number of employees currently employed at locations within the State of Michigan.

Number of additional employees to be employed at locations within the State of Michigan if awarded this Contract (if any)

Minimum wage paid to employees employed at locations within the State of Michigan.

Average wage paid to employees employed at locations within the State of Michigan.

Percentage of employees employed at locations within the State of Michigan that are covered by employer-provided health insurance.

8. Labor, Antidiscrimination and Environmental Laws Compliance

Bidder must disclose any violations of state or federal labor, antidiscrimination and employment laws and regulations received within the past five years.

Bidder must disclose any violations of state or federal environmental laws and regulations received within the past five years.

9. Supplier Diversity

10. Other

11. Response to State Requests

Schedule A – statement of work contract activities Department of Natural Resources Openings Maintenance and GEMS Habitat Gravel Haul Dickinson and Iron Counties Request for Proposal No. 230000002420 Company Name: _______________________ Contact: _____________________________ Address: _____________________________ Telephone: ___________________________ Email: _______________________________ SIGMA Vendor I.D.:_____________________

This schedule identifies the anticipated requirements of any Contract resulting from this RFP. The term “Contractor” in this document refers to a bidder responding to this RFP, as well as the Contractor who is awarded the contract.

The Contractor must respond to each requirement or question and explain how it will fulfill each requirement, attach supplemental information to the proposal in SIGMA and appropriately reference within the written portion of the response.

PRE-BID MEETING: There will be NO SCHEDULED PRE-BID MEETING.

Bidders are encouraged to walk the openings prior to submitting a proposal to determine potential difficulties accessing the openings AND to walk the openings prior to dozing / tilling to become aware of rocks or debris that could pose a hazard to equipment and adjust their operations accordingly. Any statements by the DNR regarding opening conditions or possible obstructions / hazards are precautionary only. The DNR will not be responsible for damage to Contractor equipment.

The Michigan DNR Wildlife Division (WLD) is seeking bids for opening cultivation and gravel hauling activities including, but not limited to mowing (if necessary), disk/tilling, fertilizing, seeding, gravel hauling, grading and rolling on State-managed public lands in Dickinson and Iron counties.

There are 186 acres available for cultivation in one block (separate areas with specific timelines and planting goals) and sifted pit run haul, grading, and rolling in a second block. All materials are to be supplied by the awarded Contractor.

Anticipated Work Timeframes:

Work Start Date: July 1, 2023 Work Completion Date: September 10, 2023

BIDDER QUESTIONS:

Bidders may contact Ryan McGillviray at (906) 221-2027 with questions concerning the conditions or locations of any opening. Questions must be limited ONLY to conditions and locations of openings.

Questions concerning other aspects of the bid must be directed to Lisa Crozier-Green, Solicitation Manager, by email at CrozierGreenL@michigan.gov. Telephone questions will not be accepted. Individual responses to emailed questions will not be provided. All Bidder Questions and DNR Answers will be posted on SIGMA VSS.

BACKGROUND

Across the Upper Peninsula (UP) region, Wildlife Division (WLD) staff of the MDNR are working to improve available habitat on state forest land for wildlife benefit. As funds allow the future goal of WLD staff responsible for Dickinson and Iron counties is to prioritize and cultivate areas of value to best benefit target wildlife species.

Grassland openings provide opportunity for a variety of wildlife species – both game and non-game alike such as bear, turkey, grouse, woodcock, numerous grassland bird species, and other fauna. The goal of this project is to complete opening maintenance work on approximately 186 acres in Dickinson and Iron counties.

Funding for this project will be provided by the Deer Range Improvement Fund (DRIP), Turkey Habitat dollars, and Pittman Robertson Funds for the State of Michigan (funding source will vary by block).

The objective of this project is to enhance grassland openings grouse habitat, turkey forage, early spring white tailed deer forage within/adjacent to deer wintering complexes (DWC), and other early successional wildlife species. This project will also provide recreational opportunities to hunters, wildlife viewers, and outdoor enthusiasts.

SCOPE

Review Attachment A – Dickinson and Iron Counties - Opening Location Maps for the location of openings and requirements.

This project seeks to cultivate and seed up to 186 acres of opening and spread, crown and roll 420 yards of sifted pit-run in our Ralph GEMS habitat area. Award recommendation will be made to complete the maximum acreage possible based on the proposal received.

There are two distinct Blocks. One for opening maintenance and one for the habitat area gravel haul.

Bidders may bid on any combination of Blocks and should examine each Block to make their own estimate of the time and cost to complete all tasks involved. Each Block / Unit will be considered separately, and more than one award may result.

Due to the size of the openings, overall number of acres, and the presence of numerous 3-to-5-inch diameter rocks present within most of the openings, it is required the Contractor use a disk with disks measuring a minimum of 25 inches in diameter. This is a new requirement to encourage the proper size and grade of equipment to successfully cultivate the soil. Tiller attachments are acceptable as well, but forestry tillers are encouraged.

Clover seeding must be planted. Broadcast seeding will not be accepted. Some fields have a thick sod layer, or many rocks and contractor may be required to make multiple passes or re-disk/plow openings to ensure soil is properly prepared to receive fertilizer and seed.

Bidders may contact Ryan McGillviray at (906) 221-2027 with questions concerning the conditions or locations of any opening. Questions must be limited ONLY to conditions and locations of openings.

Questions concerning other aspects of the bid must be directed to Lisa Crozier-Green, Solicitation Manager, by email at CrozierGreenL@michigan.gov. Telephone questions will not be accepted.

REQUIREMENTS

1. General Requirements

1.1 Block Specifications

1. Block I – Dickinson and Iron Counties Cultivating, Fertilizing, and Seeding Total Acres = 186 Work completion dates are in the chart below.

Due to budget projections, all projects may not be able to be completed. Priority for the projects will be determined after bids are received.

T44N R29W Sec. 6,7

A. Block I Requirements

1. The Contractor agrees to carry out the work (Contract Activities) under the direction and control of the Program Manager or designee.

2. The Contractor agrees to provide all labor, equipment, seed, fertilizer and other supplies and services necessary for all Contract Activities.

3. Contractor is advised to walk the openings to become aware of rocks, etc., that could cause a hazard to equipment and adjust operations accordingly. Any statements by the DNR regarding opening conditions or possible obstructions / hazards are precautionary only. The DNR will not be responsible for damage to Contractor equipment.

4. The Contractor agrees to access openings by existing roads. Any improvements to existing roads must have prior approval of the DNR. Contractor may need to temporarily remove berms blocking motor vehicle access to fields.

5. Contractor is advised to walk the access roads for the opening prior to bidding to determine potential difficulties accessing openings.

6. Following completion of work, Contractor agrees to replace any berms that were removed at opening access points.

7. Remove all rocks and debris larger than 6” from openings. Debris includes, but is not limited to, downed trees, limbs, brush, stumps, and exposed rocks.

8. The Contractor must disk the entire opening to a plantable condition with no green patches and all herbaceous material broken and turned several times to form a 6” seedbed of mineral soil. A minimum of 4 passes with a disk is mandatory to break up the soil to a satisfactory level. The Contractor may use a finishing disk (any disk with disks measuring less than 25 inches in diameter) for the final 2 passes, if desired.

9. The Contractor must provide and apply fertilizer and seed at specified rates. Contractor must use a disk with disks measuring a minimum of 25 inches in diameter and use a planter for clover (broadcast seeding is not accepted)

10. Disk fertilizer into soil before seed application.

11. Following the final disking, the Contractor will seed the openings with the prescribed Contractor supplied seed mix at the specified rates (see table below) per seed type. Clover seeding must be done with a planter. Broadcast seeding is not acceptable. The seedbed must be cultipacked before and after seeding.

12. The Contractor must remove all debris (including lime, fertilizer and/or seed bags) from the opening by completion.

13. The Contractor will notify the DNR Project Manager a minimum of 24 hours prior to beginning on-site work, and within 24 hours following completion of work to schedule field inspection.

14. Contractor sales receipt of seed and fertilizer purchase must be submitted to project coordinator.

15. Notify the Project Manager within 24-hours of completion to schedule field inspection.

100 lbs./acre

100 lbs./acre

Opening

10 lbs./acre oats 40 lbs./acre

Winter Rye 200 lbs./acre

West Field Imperial Whitetail Clover 10 lbs./acre oats 40 lbs./acre

Opening

10 lbs./acre oats 40 lbs./acre

2. Block II – Dickinson County – Ralph GEMS Habitat Gravel Haul Haul 420 yards of sifted, pit run (3-“ spec), spread, level / crown with grader and vibratory roll Work must be completed between July 1st and August 1st 2023 Due to budget projections, project may not be completed in full. Yardage may changed based on proposals received.

Bidder Response:

☐ Contractor agrees.

☐ Contractor agrees, with the following exceptions:

3. Equipment Requirements A. Mechanical failure WILL NOT constitute an acceptable reason for failure to perform the Contract Activities.

B. In the event of mechanical failure, the Contractor must provide backup equipment to continue and / or complete the Contract Activities.

C. The Contractor will provide, at a minimum, the following types of equipment:

1. Tractor

2. Disk with 25-inch minimum diameter disks, and sufficiently heavy to penetrate soil at least 6 inches deep.

3. Fertilizer Spreader

4. Seed Spreader (Planter required for clover)

5. Cultipacker

6. Dump Truck (Block 2)

7. Grader (Block 2)(Bulldozer not accepted)

8. Vibratory Roller (Block 2)

9. The Contractor must provide a list of equipment adequate to perform all Contract Activities including equipment specifics such as disk weight and size, tractor / dozer size, etc. The State reserves the right to determine whether the Contractor provided equipment is adequate to perform the Contract Activities. Adequacy of equipment proposed may be used in the award consideration.

Provide Equipment Detail HERE or attach a list as a separate document

Tractor

Disk (25-inch diameter)

Fertilizer Spreader

Seed Spreader

Seed Planter

Cultipacker

Dump Trick (Block II)

Grader (Block II)

Vibratory Roller (Block II)

Other:

Bidder Response:

☐ Contractor agrees with Section 3, Equipment Requirements.

☐ Contractor agrees, with the following exceptions:

D. Equipment Failure / Backup Equipment

1. Mechanical failure WILL NOT constitute an acceptable reason for failure to perform the Contract Activities.

2. In the event of mechanical failure, the Contractor agrees to provide backup equipment to continue and / or complete the Contract Activities.

3. Backup Equipment – Bidder must describe how they will provide backup equipment if mechanical breakdown occurs, including the timeframe to replace or repair non-working equipment.

Provide a descriptive response.

Example: “If our on-site tractor stops working during service, we have a backup tractor available and can have a replacement on site within 1 hour.”

OR

“If one of our fertilizer spreaders stops working during service, we have an agreement with a local rental company to guarantee a backup spreader on site within 1 business day.”

Bidder Response:

4. Estimated Project Timeframes A. Provide the estimated number of days required to complete the project under optimal conditions:

5. Contractor Techniques A. Explain the specific or special techniques that will be used to perform the Contract Activities, or that will provide added value to the State of Michigan.

Bidder Response: Contractor / Special Techniques

1.2 Warranties

A. Describe any warranties included in the bid – add additional rows as needed. Explain the process for reporting warranty issues and how the Contractor will handle any repairs or replacements.

B. The State reserves the right to require additional warranties other than those identified by the Contractor in its response to this RFP.

Bidder Response:

1.3 Quality Assurance Program

A. Explain your Quality Assurance Program(s).

Bidder Response:

Bidder may provide detailed information as requested in the above requirement.