54 North Fuels Reduction & Huckleberry Restoration FY26

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) S-62900-00014694 for the 54 North Fuels Reduction & Huckleberry Restoration Project on the Umatilla National Forest under the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA). The procurement seeks environmental assessment and documentation services for up to 40,565 acres of forest treatment, with specific objectives including reducing wildfire risks, enhancing wildlife habitat, improving forest structure, and supporting local economies. Key deliverables include preparing an Environmental Assessment, Decision Notice, Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), wildlife and fisheries biological evaluations, aquatics reports, and socioeconomic and recreation reports. The project is located near Ukiah in Umatilla and Union Counties, adjacent to the Umatilla Indian Reservation, with a focus on addressing declining huckleberry habitat and improving Big Game forage conditions. Proposals are due by September 22, 2025, with a pre-proposal conference scheduled for September 3, 2025. The evaluation will be based on 100 points for technical criteria and 50 points for pricing, with scoring across executive summary, references, proposer questions, key personnel qualifications, and statement of qualifications. The contract term is anticipated to expire on June 30, 2026.

The RFP includes a Certified Disadvantaged Business Outreach Plan that encourages participation of certified disadvantaged businesses, specifically targeting small businesses certified by the Oregon Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID). These include minority-owned, woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and emerging small businesses. Proposers must disclose their certification status, list prior relationships with certified firms, and outline subcontracting opportunities. While the specific award value is not explicitly stated in the documents, the pricing proposal form indicates payment will be made for completed and accepted deliverables across six primary items, including pre-work meetings, progress reviews, biological evaluations, aquatics reports, and socioeconomic studies. The agency reserves the right to award all, part, or none of the proposal items based on their best interests. Proposers must demonstrate financial stability, legal standing, and operational capabilities through a comprehensive Responsibility Inquiry form, which assesses past contract performance, legal history, and compliance with various state requirements.