AM26-75-1 Raft River Habitat and Vegetation Project – Onemile Hand Thin Lop and Scatter (Pre-Qualified Contractors Only)

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing, conducting through the Division of Wildlife Resources, is soliciting bids via Invitation for Bid (IFB) AM26-75-1 for lop and scatter services covering up to 717 acres in Box Elder County located on the Sawtooth National Forest in the Raft River Habitat and Vegetation Project area. The primary objectives of this project are to remove encroaching juniper and conifer trees from sage-steppe and pinyon woodland ecosystems to reduce vegetation competition, maintain big game forage, improve pinyon woodland health, and reduce hazardous fuel loading in key wildlife habitats at elevations ranging from 6,300 to 7,800 feet with slopes between 10-50 percent. The work encompasses three individual units that must be completed between June 1 and October 31, 2026, with contractors responsible for transporting equipment to remote work sites via paved highways, county dirt roads, and jeep trails using four-wheel drive vehicles. Contractors must cut all live or dead juniper trees except those exhibiting old-growth characteristics and cut conifer trees as specified in project requirements. The contract will be awarded to the single lowest cost responsive and responsible vendor using a lowest cost per acre evaluation methodology, with award anticipated by May 21, 2026 (the response deadline). Participation is limited exclusively to pre-qualified contractors currently listed on the State's Pre-approved/Pre-qualified Vendor list, no mandatory site visit is required, and vendors must guarantee their pricing through project completion with any adjustments requiring at least thirty days' notice and supporting market documentation.

This solicitation is restricted to pre-qualified contractors only, and bids from non-prequalified vendors will not be considered. Contractors must comply with multiple statutory requirements including Utah Code Annotated 63G-6a procurement standards, anti-boycott provisions under UCA 63G-27, and restrictions on forced labor products and restricted foreign entities. All bids containing exceptions or additions to standard terms and conditions will be rejected as non-responsive. Contractors must maintain workers' compensation insurance, commercial general liability insurance of at least one million dollars per occurrence and three million dollars aggregate, and commercial automobile liability insurance of one million dollars per occurrence if vehicles are used. The contract terms include F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed pricing with the contractor bearing all transportation, handling, and delivery charges unless otherwise negotiated, invoices due within thirty days of delivery with Purchase Order number referenced, and payment remitted within thirty days of receiving a correct invoice. Vendors must maintain performance records for six years after final payment and achieve a minimum average performance score of 60 to remain eligible on the Rangeland Pre-Qualification list; those scoring below 60 are removed from the pre-qualification list for their specific treatment category, though they may reapply at the next Request for Sealed Quotation opening. No specific budget range or award value is provided in the solicitation documents.