AM27-11 Soldier Creek Watershed Restoration FY-27 Lop and Scatter (Pre-Qualified Contractors)

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing, conducting procurement on behalf of the Division of Wildlife Resources, is soliciting bids under IFB AM27-11 for lop and scatter services across up to 1,177 acres in Utah County, with bids due August 13, 2026. Participation is limited exclusively to prequalified contractors on the current Pre-approved/Pre-qualified Vendor list; submissions from non-prequalified vendors will be rejected.

The scope encompasses hand cutting of live young juniper trees and saplings for wildland fire hazard reduction and wildlife habitat improvement across the Dairy Fork Wildlife Management Area (approximately 800 acres) and adjacent private land (approximately 376 acres) near Mill Fork, Utah County, at elevations of 6,000 to 6,600 feet. The average stem diameter is 3.5 inches with an estimated 160 to 220 trees per acre. Contractors must furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, and GPS-capable devices for navigation; access is via paved highways, county dirt roads, and jeep trails with four-wheel drive vehicles recommended. The project performance period runs September 30 through December 30, 2026.

Award will be made to the single lowest cost responsive and responsible vendor based on lowest cost per acre methodology. Contractors must guarantee pricing through project completion; price adjustment requests require at least 30 days' notice, supporting market analysis, and Director approval. No mandatory site visit is required.

Contractor performance is evaluated on Quality of Product or Service (8× weighting), Timeliness of Performance (8× weighting), and Contract Management (4× weighting), with a minimum average score of 60 required to maintain prequalification status. Removal from the prequalified list results in ineligibility for that treatment category and all larger acreages, though removed vendors may bid on open solicitations and reapply.

Contractors must maintain workers' compensation insurance covering full statutory liability, commercial general liability insurance with minimum $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate, and commercial automobile liability insurance with $1 million combined single limits if vehicles are used. All deliverables are F.O.B. Destination, prepaid by contractor. Standard Terms and Conditions are non-negotiable; bids with exceptions or modifications will be rejected.