Cone harvesting services

The South Carolina Forestry Commission is requesting bids for cone harvesting services at the Niederhof Forestry Center, with bids due September 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., and a mandatory site visit scheduled for August 20–21, 2026 at the location in Tillman, South Carolina.

The scope covers hand harvesting of pine cones from 59 acres across three species: 17 acres of Third Cycle Coastal Loblolly Pine (estimated 800 bushels), 12 acres of Third Cycle Piedmont Loblolly Pine (estimated 200 bushels), and 30 acres of Improved 1.5 Generation Longleaf Pine (estimated 800 bushels). Cones must be collected by hand or hand-held clippers without damage to tree limbs within time-sensitive maturation windows: Loblolly approximately October 1–5 and Longleaf approximately October 15–20. The contractor must provide lift units (preferably 65-foot units to minimize soil compaction), fuel, maintenance, harvesting crew supervision, and harvest-crew labor. The South Carolina Forestry Commission provides sacks, crates, ripeness checks, trash and insect-damage inspection, and crate transportation.

Contractors must have a minimum of three years of verifiable cone harvesting experience and provide proof of liability insurance. Vendor registration as a South Carolina vendor with a vendor number is required prior to bid submission. Compliance with all federal and state labor guidelines and maintenance of a drug-free workplace are mandatory.

Payment is per-bushel, determined by tallies of filled-cone crates with final tally conducted by the Seed Orchard Manager. The contract term runs October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Questions are due August 27, 2026. Award notification is scheduled for September 3, 2026. One original bid submission is required, submitted online or to the SC Forestry Commission Procurement Office. Contact Chris King at 843-726-1249 for site-visit coordination.