RFP Schoolcraft - Wagner Taylor Dam Road - Openings Mastication 2024.docx

Michigan.gov/MiProcurement proposal instructions Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division – Schoolcraft Co.

Wagner Taylor Dam Road Openings Mastication Request for Proposal No. 240000001636

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. EST 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 RFP Structure and Documentation 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 Don Brown at (906) 452-6227 or BrownD28@michigan.gov with questions concerning the conditions or locations of any opening. Questions must be limited ONLY to conditions and locations of openings.

3. PRE-PROPOSAL 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.

4. 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.

5. 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. Answers to questions will be posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS. Submit questions using the format below; a Microsoft Excel format or similar is suggested.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

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

14. 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 180 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 to enter into a 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 www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS are the State’s property.

15. 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. 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 240000001636 Schoolcraft County – Wagner Taylor Road Dam – Openings Mastication

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 240000001636 Schoolcraft County – Wagner Taylor Road Dam – Openings Mastication

Printed Name, Title, Company vendor questions worksheet Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division – Schoolcraft Co.

Wagner Taylor Dam Road Openings Mastication Request for Proposal No. 240000001636

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 Company Name: _______________________ Contact: _____________________________ Address: _____________________________ Telephone: ___________________________ Email: _______________________________ SIGMA Vendor I.D.:_____________________ Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division – Schoolcraft Co.

Wagner Taylor Dam Road Openings Mastication Request for Proposal No. 240000001636

MANDATORY DOCUMENT

COMPLETE AND ATTACH WITH THE PROPOSAL IN SIGMA VSS

The Bidder must respond to each requirement or question and explain how it will fulfill each requirement, complete and attach all Mandatory Documents.

There will be NO SCHEDULED PRE-BID MEETING FOR THIS RFP.

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 beginning work to become aware of rocks or debris that could pose a hazard to equipment and adjust their operations accordingly. The DNR will not be responsible for damage to Contractor equipment.

BIDDER QUESTIONS:

Bidders may contact Don Brown at (906) 287-0018 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.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking bids for opening mastication work on select wildlife grassland openings on state-owned lands located in Schoolcraft County totaling ~356 acres. Specified fields will be mulched of all standing saplings greater than 1” in diameter. All saplings/trees must be severed from the base of the tree. Acceptance is based on 90% coverage, per Attachment A – Location Maps.

Anticipated Work Timeframes:

Work Start Date: 07/15/2024 Work Completion Date: 09/01/2024

BACKGROUND

The DNR Wildlife Division objectives include the restoration and enhancement of existing habitat areas including wildlife grassland openings. These grassland openings are located along the Wagner Taylor Dam Rd in Northern Schoolcraft County and are a part of a larger grassland complex in the area. The openings complex serves as valuable open land habitat to the sharp-tailed grouse (a specie of greatest conservation needs in Michigan) and also provides an herbaceous food source for white-tailed deer during spring “break-up” and a year-round food and cover source for other upland dependent wildlife species. This grassland opening also serves to benefit bear, woodcock, and numerous non-game grassland birds. Work is funded by PR Habitat Fish and Game monies for the State of Michigan.

SCOPE

Review Attachment A – Location Maps for locations of openings and requirements.

Wagner Taylor Dam Rd Openings Schoolcraft County Map(s) for the location of openings and requirements.

This project seeks to masticate up to 356 acres of openings. Acres specified are estimated only. Award recommendation will be made to complete the maximum acreage possible based on the proposal received.

Contractor will provide all labor and equipment as well as other supplies and services necessary to perform the work as specified below. Total acreage for the grassland openings is approximately 356 acres.

Contractor must access openings by existing roads. Any improvements to existing roads must have prior approval of the DNR.

Contractor is advised to walk the openings to become aware of trees, rocks or debris that could cause hazard to equipment and adjust their operations accordingly.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.0 General Requirements

A. To be completed by September 1, 2024 (weather dependent):

1. Contractor agrees to masticate / mulch all standing saplings greater than 1” in diameter.

2. All saplings / trees must be severed from the base of the tree.

3. Blocks will contain ~200-800 seedlings/saplings per acre ranging from 1-3 inches in diameter; however, trees larger than 3 inches in diameter do occur and will have to be felled and/or mulched.

4. Brush must be severed as flush as possible leaving sems that are less than 1 foot in height.

5. Contractor is obligated to contact Miss Dig prior to beginning treatments on any sites.

6. Acceptance is based on 90% coverage of a block.

7. DO NOT cut / much any OAK found onsite. Oak must be left as reserve trees.

8. Contractor is responsible for proper disposal of all work-related debris from job site.

B. Bidders may bid on any combination of Block / Units and should examine each Block / Unit to make their own estimate of the time and cost to complete all tasks involved.

C. Each Block / Unit will be considered separately, and more than one award may result.

D. There are no specific equipment requirements for this project.

E. Bidders may contact Don Brown at (906) 287-0018 with questions concerning the conditions or locations of any opening. Questions must be limited ONLY to conditions and locations of openings.

F. 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.

1.1 Specifications

A. Contract Activities B. The Contractor will carry out the work as specified (Contract Activities) under the direction and control of the Program Manager or designee.

C. Contractor will provide all labor, equipment, and any other supplies and services necessary for all Contract Activities per Section 1.2, below.

D. Contractor is advised to walk the openings to become aware of rocks, stumps, debris, etc., that could cause hazard to equipment and adjust their operations accordingly.

E. Contractor must access openings by existing roads. Any improvements to existing roads must have prior approval of the DNR.

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

G. The opening is marked with red paint on the Eastern side as to exclude an existing archeological site and to buffer the Fox River. Wagner Taylor Dam Road is the Western Buffer.

H. There is a known archeological area adjacent to and within stand (designated area is labeled on below maps). Area is excluded with the red line marking the stand boundary. Do not mulch or move heavy equipment within or adjacent to this area.

I. Mulch all standing saplings greater than 1” in diameter.

J. Brush must be severed as flush as possible leaving stems that are less than 1 ft in height.

K. DO NOT cut/mulch any oak found onsite.

L. Contractor is obligated to contact Miss Dig prior to beginning treatments on any sites.

M. The Contractor must remove all debris (including anything brought by contractor on site to accomplish work) from the opening at completion.

N. Work is to begin no sooner than July 15, 2024, and completed on or before September 1, 2024. Timeframe may be adjusted for weather conditions with project manager approval.

O. 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.

B. Equipment Requirements

1. Mechanical failure WILL NOT constitute an acceptable reason for failure to perform the Contract Activities. In the event of mechanical failure, the Contractor must provide backup equipment to continue and / or complete the Contract Activities.

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

a. Skid Steer with mulching head.

b. Hydro Axe with mulching head

c. Dozer with mulching head

d. Chainsaw(s)

e. The Contractor must provide a list of equipment adequate to perform all Contract Activities including equipment specifics such as mulching heads, skid steer/hydro axe/ 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

Skid steer with mulching head

Bulldozer with mulching head (optional mulching head)

Excavator (optional)

Hydro Axe with mulching head

Chainsaw(s)

Other:

Bidder Response:

☐ Contractor agrees with Section B, Equipment Requirements.

☐ Contractor agrees, with the following exceptions:

3. Equipment Failure / Backup Equipment

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 agrees to provide backup equipment to continue and / or complete the Contract Activities.

c. 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 dozer stops working during service, we have a backup dozer available and can have a replacement on site within 1 hour.” OR “If one of our excavators stops working during service, we have an agreement with a local rental company to guarantee a excavator on site within 1 business day.”

Bidder Response:

1.2 Block Specifications

A. Block I – Wagner Taylor Dam Road Openings – Schoolcraft County – South Block Mulching Total Acres = ~225 Work must be completed between July 15, 2024 and September 1, 2024.

1. Block I Contract Activities, Equipment, Seed, Lime, and Fertilizer Requirements

a. Contractor must masticate/mulch all standing saplings greater than 1” in diameter.

b. All saplings/trees must be severed from the base of the tree.

c. Blocks will contain ~200-800 seedlings/saplings per acre ranging from 1-3 inches in diameter; however, trees larger than 3 inches in diameter do occur and will have to be felled and/or mulched.

d. Brush must be severed as flush as possible leaving stems that are less than 1 ft in height.

e. Contractor is obligated to contact Miss Dig prior to beginning treatments on any sites.

f. Acceptance is based on 90% coverage of a block

g. DO NOT cut/mulch any oak found onsite.

h. Notify the Program Manager within 24-hours of completion to schedule field inspection B. Block II – Wagner Taylor Dam Rd Openings Schoolcraft County – North Block Mulching Total Acres = ~131 Work must be completed between July 15, 2024 and September 1, 2024.

1. Block II Contract Activities, Equipment, Seed, Lime, and Fertilizer Requirements

a. Contractor must masticate/mulch all standing saplings greater than 1” in diameter.

b. All saplings/trees must be severed from the base of the tree.

c. Blocks will contain ~200-800 seedlings/saplings per acre ranging from 1-3 inches in diameter; however, trees larger than 3 inches in diameter do occur and will have to be felled and/or mulched.

d. Brush must be severed as flush as possible leaving stems that are less than 1 ft in height.

e. Contractor is obligated to contact Miss Dig prior to beginning treatments on any sites.

f. Acceptance is based on 90% coverage of a block.

g. DO NOT cut/mulch any oak found onsite.

h. Notify the Program Manager within 24-hours of completion to schedule field inspection.

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

Bidder Estimate

D. 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

E. Estimated Project Costs – per Block A. Provide the estimated project costs, per Block, to complete the project under optimal conditions.

2. Staffing

2.1. Contractor Representative

A. The Contractor must appoint individual specifically assigned to this project who will respond to DNR inquiries regarding the Contract Activities, answer questions related to ordering and delivery, etc. (the “Contractor Representative”).

Bidder Response:

Contractor Representative:

Location:

Cell Number:

Email Address:

Organizational Role:

Qualifications:

2.2. Disclosure of Subcontractors

A. If the Contractor intends to utilize subcontractors, the Contractor must disclose the following:

1. The legal business name; address; telephone number; a description of subcontractor’s organization and the services it will provide; and information concerning subcontractor’s ability to provide the Contract Activities.

2. The relationship of the subcontractor to the Contractor. Of the total bid, the price of the subcontractor’s work. Whether the Contractor has a previous working experience with the subcontractor. If yes, provide the details of that previous relationship.

3. A complete…