Bare-root Seedling Planting Service

The Delaware Department of Agriculture Forest Service is issuing a Request for Proposal for bare-root seedling planting services statewide. The procurement seeks qualified vendors to provide comprehensive labor, materials, and equipment for planting approximately 56,950 bare-root seedlings across an estimated 130 acres at eight locations throughout Delaware. Vendors must supply all labor for tree planting and installation of tree tubes and stakes, while the State will provide the seedlings themselves. Deliverables include the supply and installation of five-foot perforated tree shelters, white oak stakes, fastening ties, and bird mesh netting meeting manufacturer specifications. The contract period extends two years from March 15, 2026 through March 14, 2028, with the possibility of two additional one-year renewal periods through negotiation, and all planting must be completed by May 15, 2026, unless extended due to weather and site conditions. Proposals are due February 20, 2026 at 1:00 PM local time, with public opening immediately following. Evaluation criteria include Resources/Capability (15 points), Price (75 points), and References (10 points), with pricing submitted using a provided Excel spreadsheet with unit costs across six quantity ranges. Vendors must provide a $1,000 bid bond, maintain workers' compensation insurance, commercial general liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and automotive liability insurance of $1,000,000 combined single limit, and must comply with prevailing wage requirements.

The RFP does not identify specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular enterprise categories, allowing for open competition among qualified vendors. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is provided in the solicitation. The State reserves the right to award to multiple vendors and make partial or item-by-item awards, and the contract is accessible to other State entities under Delaware Code Chapter 69, with possible supplemental solicitations or overlapping awards at the State's discretion. While a performance bond requirement has been waived, a $1,000 bid bond is mandatory. Contract award is anticipated within 30 days of the bid opening. The RFP does not provide a specific overall contract value or budget range, though pricing will be determined through the competitive bidding process using unit costs for tree planting and tree tube installation.