Benzie, Leelanau and Manistee counties

The State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources issued a Request for Proposal on June 14, 2019, for rye planting and field preparation services across Benzie, Manistee, and Leelanau counties in the Traverse City Area. The project involves field preparation, fertilizing, and planting of rye and brassica seed on 126.1 acres of forest openings, with bidders permitted to respond to one or more identified units. Qualified vendors must demonstrate experience and ability to meet specifications, provide all labor, equipment, fertilizer, and seed at their own cost, and submit proposals electronically through SIGMA VSS, by email, or by fax by the June 28, 2019 deadline at 3:00 p.m. EST. Questions regarding the solicitation were due by June 21, 2019, with answers posted on the SIGMA VSS website, and no pre-bid meeting was scheduled, though site visits prior to submission were encouraged. Anticipated work commences August 1, 2019, and must be completed by September 15, 2019, with the contract term running from August 1 through September 30, 2019, and no renewal options available. Technical evaluation, weighted at 100 points, will assess vendor experience and capability, with proposals scoring 80 or more points advancing to price evaluation; award recommendations will be posted on the SIGMA VSS website following evaluation completion.

Required submissions include a completed Vendor Questions Worksheet, Schedule A Statement of Work, Schedule B Vendor Price Quote, and a Certificate of Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 general aggregate. The project is funded through the Deer Range Improvement Plan (DRIP), which utilizes deer hunting license revenues, though no specific budget allocation or award value range was disclosed in the available documentation. Pricing is established as fixed and firm for the contract duration, with liquidated damages of $500 plus $100 per day applying for late or improper completion. Invoices may be submitted upon project completion and inspection, with payment terms of Net 45 days unless a quick payment discount is offered. The State of Michigan reserves the right to award to the responsible bidder offering best value and may conduct site visits, interviews, and reference checks as part of the evaluation process. No set-aside designations for disadvantaged or small businesses were identified in the procurement documents, and no incumbent vendor information was provided.