Contracted Heavy Equipment Operator & Sawyer for Jefferson County Wildfire Fuel Mitigation

Jefferson County, Texas is seeking four teams of two individuals each for a wildfire fuel mitigation contract through Invitation for Bid (IFB) 25-013/MR. The procurement targets fuel mitigation along 371 miles (1,798 acres) of county-controlled rights-of-way and 135 additional areas near critical facilities, totaling approximately 1,000 acres. Each team must consist of a heavy equipment operator and a sawyer capable of performing comprehensive wildfire prevention and land management services. The contract period will commence upon Commissioners' Court approval and expire on June 1, 2029. A mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for 10:00 AM CT on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Emergency Management Conference Room in Beaumont, Texas, with bid submissions due by 11:00 AM CT on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Bidders can submit pricing in two options: hourly rates and rates per acre for both rights-of-way and non-rights-of-way areas. Qualification requirements include System for Award Management (SAM) registration, Form 1295 from the Texas Ethics Commission, appropriate insurance certificates, and compliance with federal regulatory standards.

The county strongly encourages participation from Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), Minority/Women Business Enterprises (M/WBEs), and Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs). Specific construction HUB goals are set at 12.8% for Minority Business Enterprises and 12.6% for Women Business Enterprises, with sub-goals established for specific ethnic categories. The contract is subject to federal regulations, including FEMA-mandated provisions, and requires strict adherence to standards related to equal employment opportunity, debarment, and other federal guidelines. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the project covering 1,000 acres suggests a substantial investment in wildfire fuel mitigation. Bidders must submit comprehensive documentation demonstrating compliance with federal, state, and local procurement requirements, indicating a complex and structured selection process that prioritizes both technical capability and diverse business participation.