BD26-60 Forestry and Conservation Education Outreach Contract

The State of Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands is issuing an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for a Forestry and Conservation Education Outreach Contract (BD26-60) to procure services for K-12 education and outreach programs under the Project Learning Tree (PLT) curriculum framework. The successful vendor will be responsible for statewide implementation of PLT, including facilitating workshops for educators and resource professionals, training and managing PLT workshop facilitators, developing and maintaining a statewide network of educators and facilitators, preparing Utah-specific workshop materials, administering in-service accreditation systems, and expanding outreach opportunities. Key deliverables include quarterly progress reports due on October 7, January 7, April 7, and July 7, as well as annual summary reports due June 30, with metrics tracking the number of educators trained, estimated students reached, tree planting projects, volunteer participation, and person hours spent on each project organized by county. The contractor must provide all Human Resource services for hired staff, furnish qualified personnel to coordinate and conduct identified tasks, and submit annual work plans with cost estimates including salary, benefits, and current expenses. The contract will be awarded to the lowest cost responsive and responsible vendor, with the contract term extending from the time of award through June 30, 2027, and the bid submission deadline set for March 16, 2026. No mandatory site visit is required prior to bidding, though bidders are strongly encouraged to inspect the performance site; prospective vendors should direct all communications regarding this procurement exclusively through the State of Utah Division of Purchasing procurement officer.

The solicitation does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular types of organizations, disadvantaged enterprises, or minority-owned businesses, indicating the procurement is open to all qualified vendors. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The contract is funded through USDA Forest Service grant money received by the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, and all funds must be managed in accordance with standard accounting practices with open access to financial records for periodic audits by both FFSL and the U.S. Forest Service. Vendors must certify compliance with all provisions including anti-boycott requirements under Utah Code and confirm they are not providing forced labor products or utilizing restricted foreign entities, and must guarantee pricing for the entire contract duration through June 30, 2027. The total project budget is $13,186, with the State of Utah providing partial or complete funding for authorized expenditures while also making staff and equipment available and serving as liaison with USDA State & Private Forestry funding sources. Responses must conform strictly to stated requirements without conditional statements, modifications, or additional terms and conditions, as any exceptions or additions will result in bid rejection.