BD26-65 Tree Plot Inventory and Stand Examination Data Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing, in conjunction with the Wildlife Resources division and the USDA Forest Service, is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) to procure tree plot inventory and stand examination data collection services for 997 forest inventory plots within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The work will utilize a modified Common Stand Exam (CSE) extensive format across the Logan Ranger District and Ogden Ranger District, with approximately 30 additional Brown's transect locations spanning multiple townships in Cache, Rich, Morgan, and Summit counties. The contractor must establish plots, measure and record trees using a double-plot approach, and collect comprehensive data on large trees, small trees, and standing dead trees in compliance with the current Common Stand Exam Field Guide for Region 4. All data collection must be conducted electronically using Exams Mobile on Android tablets (version 11 or later) with bi-weekly submissions to the Project Manager, and GPS units must achieve horizontal accuracy within 30 feet using NAD83 geodetic datum. Key personnel requirements mandate that crew leaders possess undergraduate coursework in mensuration, tree identification, plant identification, silviculture, and ecology, plus a minimum of three months of prior field inventory experience, with demonstrated proficiency in aerial photograph interpretation, stand type identification, handheld GPS and compass use, species identification, and forest measurement equipment operation. The contractor is responsible for providing all labor, equipment, transportation, supervision, and supplies necessary to complete the work, including clearing overgrown access roads and offsetting plot locations 66 feet perpendicular from road rights-of-way. The contract term extends from the time of award through June 30, 2026, with vendors required to guarantee pricing for the entire contract duration, and the bid due date is April 9, 2026; no mandatory site visit will be held prior to bidding, though potential bidders are strongly encouraged to conduct independent site inspections to assess conditions affecting performance and cost.

The procurement documents do not explicitly specify set-aside designations or restrictions targeting disadvantaged enterprises, though all vendors must certify compliance with statutory requirements including anti-boycott provisions under UCA 63G-27 and restrictions on forced labor products. Vendors must also certify non-engagement in boycotts of the State of Israel, and the State's standard terms and conditions are non-negotiable; any bids containing exceptions, additions, or conditional language will be rejected as non-responsive. Award notification does not constitute a binding contract until a fully executed purchase order or contract is received, and vendors may not commence work or procure materials prior to contract execution. All questions must be submitted through the U3P system during the designated question and answer period, with responses posted on U3P prior to the closing deadline. While no specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the procurement documents, the contract is anticipated to result in a single award to the lowest cost responsive and responsible vendor. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are referenced, and there are no special technology integration requirements beyond the specified use of Exams Mobile software on Android tablets.