Cottonwood Creek Phase II Lop and Scatter

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing and Division of Wildlife Resources issued an Invitation for Bid (KL22-57) for Cottonwood Creek Phase II Lop and Scatter services, targeting approximately 661 acres of BLM-administered lands located 30 miles northeast of Cedar City. The procurement seeks a contractor to perform specialized forestry work involving thinning pinyon and juniper trees between 1-14 inches in diameter, with specific requirements for tree selection, cutting methods, and slash treatment. Mandatory qualifications include being on the current State of Utah Rangeland Prequalification List and providing a minimum 8-man crew with specific equipment such as chainsaws and GPS or smartphone mapping capabilities. The bidding period was open from October 28, 2021, to November 9, 2021, with a project completion deadline of January 15, 2022, or within 60 calendar days of the Notice-to-Proceed. Evaluation criteria focused on responsiveness, contractor qualifications, and lowest bid, with careful attention to equipment condition, tree cutting precision, and adherence to specified forestry management guidelines.

The solicitation was limited to prequalified contractors and did not appear to have specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. G.E. Forestry, Inc. was ultimately awarded the contract as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. No government property was to be furnished, and the contract would result in a single purchase order. The project area is located at elevations ranging from 6,500 to 7,500 feet, with specific environmental management objectives including careful tree selection prioritizing pinyon pine and juniper, maintaining specific spacing requirements, and implementing appropriate slash treatment techniques. While the exact contract value was not explicitly stated, the scope of work involving 661 acres and requiring an 8-man crew suggests a substantial project investment. The procurement was specifically tied to Iron County, Utah, with the work to be performed on BLM-administered lands, indicating a localized, environmentally focused vegetation management initiative.