BD26-59 Shrub Seedlings Millville-Providence WMA

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing, in cooperation with the Division of Wildlife Resources, is conducting an Invitation for Bids (IFB) to procure 7,500 shrub seedlings in PL 50 plugs with Vexar mesh for the NRO Big Game Winter Range Enhancement project. The procurement is divided between two wildlife management areas: 4,500 seedlings for Millville-Providence WMA in Cache County and 3,000 seedlings for Middle Fork WMA in Weber County. Required species include Wyoming Big Sagebrush, Mountain Big Sagebrush, and Antelope Bitterbrush in specified quantities at each location. Seedlings must be started no later than March 15, 2026, grown and stored in a nursery, and be at least 7 months old by October 15, 2026, with a delivery window extending through November 30, 2026, and a possible postponement option until April 1, 2027, depending on soil conditions. Plants must reach 6 inches in height above soil surface by delivery, with roots filling PL 50 plugs (approximately 1.94 inches wide by 4.5 inches deep) while maintaining soil integrity, and all plants must be wrapped in Vexar mesh tube protectors extending 8 inches above the soil surface. The Division of Wildlife Resources will provide all seeds, and pricing will be submitted on a per-seedling basis with the vendor required to guarantee pricing for the entire contract duration. The IFB was posted on March 2, 2026, with a bid due date of March 9, 2026, and no mandatory site visit will be held prior to bidding, though potential bidders are strongly encouraged to inspect the project sites. The contract term runs from March 15, 2026, through no later than April 1, 2027, and award will be made to the lowest cost responsive and responsible bidder.

The procurement documents do not identify any set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, women-owned businesses, or other protected classifications, indicating this is an open competition available to all qualified vendors. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed in the available documentation. Vendors must comply with comprehensive prerequisites established by the State of Utah, including prohibitions on unauthorized communications with procurement staff, mandatory compliance with Utah Code Annotated provisions, anti-boycott certifications, and restricted foreign entity compliance requirements. All vendor responses must be submitted through the U3P online system by the March 9, 2026 deadline, and responses containing exceptions or additions to standard terms and conditions will be rejected as non-responsive. Vendors are not permitted to commence work, procure supplies, or prepare for contract performance until after award notification and execution of a binding purchase order or contract. No budget range or estimated award value has been disclosed in the available procurement documentation.