AMENDMENT*** Prepare up to 30 acres within a timber sale.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Forest Resources Division, issued Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 180000002055 for site preparation and mulching services at the Brighton Tree Improvement Center in Livingston County, Michigan. This procurement seeks a contractor to mulch and clear brush from approximately 29 acres of woodland, reducing all woody material including slash and brush to one inch in diameter or smaller. The scope of work encompasses two primary scenarios: the initial 29-acre project involving felled trees and standing brush with timber processing and removal, and contingent pricing for alternate scenarios involving felled trees and standing brush without timber removal (18 acres) and standing timber and brush removal (11 acres). The contractor must supply all equipment, including chainsaws, chippers, stump grinders, and safety equipment, and comply with American National Standards Institute Z-133.1 safety standards. Key personnel requirements mandate a full-time Project Manager with a minimum of five years of arboricultural operations experience and five years of project management experience who must be present during all operations. Work may commence as early as May 15, 2018, for blocks where timber has been removed, with a general start date of July 1, 2018, and all work must be completed and invoiced by September 15, 2018. A pre-proposal meeting was scheduled for April 18, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. at the work site, with a question submission deadline of April 24, 2018, at 3:00 p.m., and a proposal submission deadline of April 30, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The State will award the contract to the responsive and responsible bidder offering the best value, considering factors including qualified disabled veteran (QDV) status under Michigan law, prior performance history, overall economic impact to Michigan, and total cost of ownership.

The RFP does not indicate any specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though qualified disabled veteran (QDV) status is identified as an evaluation factor under Michigan law. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Michigan SIGMA VSS system in modifiable native formats, with pricing submitted separately from other proposal documents. The contractor must comply with all standard certifications regarding abusive labor practices, Michigan business tax filing, Iran-linked business status, environmental compliance, and convict labor regulations. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is provided in the available procurement documents. The contractor is required to maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including Commercial General Liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate, Automobile Liability Insurance with $1,000,000 per occurrence limits, and Workers' Compensation Insurance according to applicable law. All invoices are payable within 45 days of State receipt via Electronic Funds Transfer, with all prices inclusive of taxes. The specific budget or award value is not disclosed in the available documentation, though the State reserves the right to award based on available funding and may decrease the scope of work accordingly. The proposal is irrevocable and binding for 180 calendar days from submission, and contracts exceeding $500,000 require approval by the State Administrative Board.