Deer Flat & Birch Creek Lop & Scatter

The State of Utah's Department of Natural Resources issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) under solicitation CN17111 for wildlife habitat and rangeland improvements through hand cutting (lop and scatter) of Pinyon Pine and Juniper trees across two project locations totaling 675 acres. The project encompasses 656 acres in the Deer Flat area southwest of Marysvale and 19 acres in the Birch Creek area southwest of Circleville. Contractor requirements included maintaining a minimum 12-man crew capable of cutting trees up to 12 inches in diameter, with specific cutting height requirements based on terrain. The project sites are located on federal and state property at elevations ranging from 6,200 to 7,400 feet, with access via paved highways, county dirt roads, and jeep trails. A mandatory site visit was scheduled for May 11th, 2017, with bid submissions due by May 18th, 2017, and a contract performance timeline of 40 calendar days. Bidders were required to be pre-qualified contractors and provide detailed documentation demonstrating their capabilities. The contract was to be awarded on a per-acre pricing model, inclusive of all labor, equipment, and materials, with no fuel surcharges or adjustments permitted.

The solicitation was restricted to pre-qualified contractors, with participation limited to those meeting specific prerequisites and maintaining appropriate licenses. Four-wheel drive vehicles were recommended for site access, indicating potential logistical challenges for bidders. The contract was ultimately awarded to Summitt Forests, Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were mentioned in the documentation. The project required comprehensive documentation and capabilities to handle challenging terrain and environmental conditions. While specific budget ranges were not explicitly detailed, the contract was structured on a per-acre pricing model, suggesting flexibility in total project cost based on the actual work performed. The project's focus on wildlife habitat and rangeland improvements indicates an environmental management and conservation-oriented procurement approach by the Utah Department of Natural Resources.